Dr. S. Dasgupta
Transcript of Dr. S. Dasgupta
1
National Workshop on
Quality Assurance and Accreditation
On 12 – 13th May, 2013
Presented by:
Dr. S. Dasgupta
Director of Technical Education, West Bengal &
State Project Advisor, SPFU-WB
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Present Direction of Higher & Technical Education in
West Bengal
Expansion, Equity & Excellence are the vision of the State besides ensuring
quality education.
The higher education sector in West Bengal is currently in a significant
expansion mode (42 new Degree Colleges and 2 new Govt. Engineering
Colleges are underway, most of them are funded by the State, 3 new State-
Aided Universities have been set up in the last 6 months and the State’s first few
Private Universities are expected to commence operations shortly).
The equity plank is also being emphasized. The Legislative Assembly has
recently passed the OBC Reservation Bill mandating reservation of 17% seats in
all State Aided higher educational institutions to OBC’s; several colleges for girls
besides eastern India’s first Women University are being set up.
As for excellence, the West bengal State Higher Education Council has recently
been appointed by the National Board of Accreditation as its Nodal Centre for
West Bengal, Bihar and the North east for mandatory accreditations of Higher
Education institutes starting from those imparting professional courses.
World Bank funded TEQIP Phase I & II are implemented in the State of West
Bengal successfully where accreditation of courses has been considered as one
of the important Key Performance Indicator.
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A brief Profile of Technical Education in the State West Bengal for the
academic Year 2012 – 13
Type of Institutions Number Approved Intake
A. Degree Level Engineering Institutions
– Govt. Engg. & Tech. Colleges 06
34,305
– University / University Departments 06
– Self Financing Engg. Colleges 70
– Self Financing Pharmacy Colleges 10
TOTAL 92
B. Management (MBA) Colleges
– University / University Departments 08
4,890 – Standalone MBA Colleges 20
– Engg Colleges with Management Deptt. 28
TOTAL 56
C. MCA Colleges
– University / University Departments 06
2,429 – Standalone MCA Colleges 04
– Engg. Colleges with MCA Deptt. 29
TOTAL 39
D. Hotel management & Catering Technology (HMCT) 04 345
* All institutions have AICTE approval and WBUT affiliation
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Status of PG Courses in Engineering & Technology
offered in Institutions in the State of West Bengal
(2012 – 13)
Sl.
No.
Type of Engineering
Institutions
No. of institutions
offering PG courses
No. of PG courses
1. University & University
Department
06 73
2. Govt. Engineering & Technology
College
05
(out of 6)
11
3. Self Financing Engineering &
Technology College
29
(out of 70)
87
4. Self Financing Pharmaceutical
Engineering & Technology
College
07
(out of 10)
22
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WBSCHE as the Nodal Centre for NBA
West Bengal State Council of Higher Education (WBSCHE), established in 1994
has taken plenty of new initiatives in order to enhance the quality of higher
Education in West Bengal, introduction of Academic Auditing in Universities,
planning for common entrance test for admission in Post graduate courses in
Universities, formation of expert Committees for various academic activities,
helping the government with the setting up of new Universities, drafting Private
University Bill, Advising the amendment of West Bengal University Acts,
Presidency University Act, etc.
Decision of the National Board of Accreditation (NBA) for choosing WBSCHE as
its Nodal Centre in West Bengal, Bihar, all North East States in recognition of the
outstanding performance of WBSCHE is welcome. Perhaps, WBSCHE is the
only State Council in the country to receive such responsibility. All other nodal
Centres are located in a technical institution. We understand a MoU is going to
be signed between NBA and WBSCHE shortly to promote the quality of
Technical Education. The draft MOU has already been signed. We believe, the
joint venture will not only improve the quality of technical education of the State
but also will generate fund and academic resources of the State Government.
Contd..
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WBSCHE along with NBA is expected to go a long way in promoting technical
education and contributing effectively in improving the quality of Higher
Education in Engineering & Technology Sector.
NBA along with WBSCHE has already held a joint Workshop in Kolkata during
22–23rd March 2013. Academicians, Engineers and educationists attended in
large number.
The State Govt. expects the WBSCHE to function as the Nodal Centre for
Accreditation of Engineering & Technical institutes in West Bengal, Bihar and all
North East States under the National Policy guidelines of NBA.
WBSCHE as the Nodal Centre for NBA
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Rastriya Uchchatara Siksha Abhiyan (RUSA) – Participation of the
state of West Bengal
To achieve the national target of 30% GER (it is currently 18.8 for the country
and 12.6 for West Bengal) by 2020, huge investments are required in the
Country’s higher education sector.
The Central Government is coming out with Rashtriya Uchchatara Shiksha
Abhiyan (RUSA) as a Centrally sponsored scheme in mission mode that will
spread over XIIth and XIIIth plan period. The Central funding will be linked to
academic and governance reforms. The Govt. of West Bengal has already
conveyed its willingness to participate in RUSA.
The State’s Higher Education Council will be actively involved in receiving
Central and State Grant under RUSA and will transfer the funds electronically
to Higher Education institutions to implement the institutional Action Plan.
This will be an enormous task of WBSCHE to execute the scheme which
necessarily calls for scaling up of the overall strength of the council.
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World Bank assisted Technical Education Quality Improvement Program, Phase – I
(2004-2009) was successfully implemented in the State of West Bengal. 11 institutions
participated in the project. Govt. funded institutions received fund as grant but the
Private self financing institutions received fund as loan with a condition to refund with
interest beyond the moratorium period.
Each participating institution implemented a set of reforms that promoted significant /
substantial academic autonomy. Further, TEQIP invested in faculty development,
encouraged participation in national and international conferences and it financed
necessary purchase of modern labs and research instruments. Joint activities towards
Tribal development plan, Services to society and economy through networking was
successful. Life Time Allocation for each institution was released at the
commencement of project.
West Bengal was considered as one of the best performing State in Phase – I.
Centrally sponsored, World Bank assisted Technical Education Quality Improvement
Program, Phase – II, jointly funded by the Central and State Govt. on 75 : 25 basis,
has been in operation since 2010 -11 in 13 selected engineering institutes of this State
under sub component 1.1 & 1.2 with a view to upgrade quality of technical education
for enhancement of learning outcome, employability of engineering graduates, Post
graduate education, R & D and innovation in Higher Education. Funds are being
released in phases based on performance during execution.
Implementation of Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme
(TEQIP) in West Bengal
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Name of the institutes participating under various
categories in TEQIP, Phase - II
Project Component Category of College Name of the College
1st Cycle Institution
under Sub Comp 1.2
Government Funded
• Faculty of Engg & Tech.-Jadavpur University
• Bengal Engg & Science University
• University College of Tech. Calcutta University
Private Unaided • JIS College of Engineering
1st Cycle Institution
under Sub Comp 1.1
Government Funded • West Bengal University of Technology
• University Instt. of Tech. Burdwan University
Government Aided
• RCC Institute of Information Technology
• Bankura Unnayani Instt. of Engineering
• Birbhum Instt. of Engg. & Technology
• College of Engg & Management Kolaghat
Private Unaided
• MCKV Institute of Engineering
• Narula Institute of Technology
• Heritage Institute of Technology
2nd Cycle Institution
under Sub Com 1.1 Government Aided
• Govt. College of Engg. & Textile Tech. Berhampur
• Murshidabad College of Engg. & Technology
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Institutes
(1)
Total number of Programs
being offered with number
of Eligible Programs given
within Bracket
(2)
Total number of
Programs Applied
for Accreditation
out of (1)
(3)
Total number of
Programs Received
Accreditation out of
(1) with date of effect
Remarks
UG PG UG PG UG PG
University College of
Technology, Calcutta
University 09 08 - - - - NAAC accredited
Faculty of Engg. &
Technology, Jadavpur
University 20 32 - - - - NAAC accredited
Bengal Engg. & Science
University 08 (08) 09 (07) - - 08 05
Valid for 3 years with
effect from April’12
West Bengal University of
Technology 02 (02) 07 (05) 01 03 - - -
University Institute of
Technology, Burdwan
University 06 (04) 02(0) - - - -
Validity of 2 UG
Course expired
JIS College of Engineering,
Kalyani 08 (06) 08 (04) 02 02 04 02 100%
Accreditation Status of the participating institutes under TEQIP – II
(as on 15th April, 2013)
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Institutes
(1)
Total number of Programs being
offered with number of Eligible
Programs given within Bracket
(2)
Total number of
Programs Applied for
Accreditation out of (1)
(3)
Total number of
Programs Received
Accreditation out of (1)
with date of effect
Remarks
UG PG UG PG UG PG
College of Engg. &
Management, Kolaghat 06 (05) - 05 - - - -
RCC Institute of Information
Technology 05 (03) 03(0) - - - -
Applied for 2 and
withdrawn
Bankura Unnayani Institute of
Engg. 05 (05) - - - - - -
Birbhum Institute of Engg. &
Technology 06 (06) - 03 - - - -
Heritage Institute of
Technology 09 (06) 05 (02) - - - -
4 UG programs
accredited w.e.f
10.02.2009 for 3 years
MCKV Institute of Engg. 06 (04) 04 (01) 04 - - - -
Narula Institute of Technology 06 (04) 03 (01) 04 - - - -
Accreditation Status of the participating institutes under TEQIP – II
(as on 15th April, 2013)
A few other institutions outside TEQIP also have NBA accreditation.
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A few suggestions to improve status of NBA Accreditation
Gap between expiry of the validity of existing accreditation and awarding fresh
accreditation is sometime very high due to lengthy procedure.
Even after submission of Application, sometimes it takes a long time to give the
date of visiting and finally the accreditation.
NAAC accredited Universities are often reluctant to apply for NBA accreditation.
Online NBA procedure still suffers from teething troubles, like getting
appropriate password by the authorized functionaries.
Lack of awareness about the benefit of accredited institutes plays a negative
role.
Centralized procedure of NBA accreditation often takes longer time. Regional
centre / State centers may be an effective solution.
Existing charges for new / repeat NBA accreditation often plays a deterrent role.
Linking of obtaining NBA accreditation of eligible programs with according
approval of new courses may yield encouraging results.