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NAAC PEER COMMITTEE REPORT-2008

Section I:	General
Section II:	Criterion wise Analysis
Criterion I	Curricular Aspects
Criterion II	Teaching –Learning and Evaluation
Criterion III	Research, Consultancy & Extension
Criterion IV	Infrastructure & Learning Resources
Criterion V	Student support and Progression
Criterion VI	Governance & Leadership
Criterion VII	Innovative Practices
Section III:	Overall Analysis
Section IV:	Recommendations for Quality Engagement of the Institution

Section I : General

Name & Address of the Institution:		Osmania University Hyderabad-500 007 A.P.
Year of Establishment		22.09.1918
Current academic Activities at the Institution (Numbers):
	Faculties/Schools:	11
	Departments/Centers:	52 Departments
	Programmes/Courses offered:	PG 27; UG 32; Research 16; Other 20; M.Phil 28; Ph.D 48; PG Diploma 22
	Permanent Faculty Members:	832; Part time 224
	Permanent Support Staff:	2071+398 Technical=2469
	Students:	UG: 2,51,224 PG: 38,074

Section II : CRITERION WISE ANALYSIS

Criterion I : Curricular Aspects

Curricular Design & Development

i.	Experts from industry and research organizations are nominated on Board of Studies.
ii.	A wide range of curriculum offerings from UG to PG and traditional to technologically advanced are observed.
iii.	Concerted and coordinated attempts are being made towards up-gradation of traditional courses to meet emerging needs and career orientation. This be further augmented.

Academic flexibility

i.	Remedial classes for slow learners and remedial classes for English Communication as well as Computer Education are offered.
ii.	Curricular options in consonance with the mission of access and attempts towards excellence are observed.
iii.	Curriculum offers limited elective options.

Feedback on Curriculum

i.	Student feedback is methodically obtained and systematically analyzed using a software.
ii.	Industry/Employer representatives are statutorily included in all the Boards of Studies.
iii.	Feedback from the stakeholders in curriculum development needs to be systematized in all programmes.

Curriculum Update:

i.	Curriculum update includes programmes for increasing employability through development of communication skills, computer skills and personality development.
ii.	UG Syllabi updated once in 5 years, while most of the PG Courses are updated once in 3 years.
iii.	Inter-disciplinary curriculum development which has started recently needs to be given an immediate thrust.

Best Practices in curricular Aspects (if any)

ii.	Pre-curriculum development workshops and post curriculum development orientation programmes for faculty are conducted.
iii.	Conscious efforts are made to improve communication skills and computer literacy among all students.

Criterion –II Teaching –Learning and Evaluation

Admission Process and Student profile:

i.	PG admission process for university and its affiliated colleges is transparent.
ii.	Access and equity in reaching to marginalized population is visible.

Catering to the diverse needs:

i.	Attempts at meeting the diverse needs of students through remedial courses and coaching facilities for competitive examinations are made.
ii.	Programmes for advanced learners and inclusive education be augmented.
iii.	Tutor-ward system that exists in the university needs to the strengthened and evolved as a mentoring system.

Teaching – Learning Process:

i.	Participatory and student centered learning activities used on most of the subjects across different faculties.
ii.	Every department has a library which is utilized for teaching-learning purpose.
iii.	Computer Laboratory, audio-visual facilities and a few museum are used for participatory learning.

Teacher Quality:

i.	83% of teachers have Ph.D. and 4% have M.Phil.
ii.	Many teachers are involved in research and publication activities and have received recognition at regional and national levels.
iii.	Training be provided to the faculty to enable them to use diverse teaching methods especially ICT.

10.

Best Practices in Teaching-Learning and Evaluation (if any)

i.	University Foreign Relations Office as a single window facility for processing admissions of foreign students has been created.
ii.	Value added courses in collaboration with industry have been initiated.

Criterion III : RESEARCH, CONSULTANCY & EXTENSION

11.

Promotion of Research:

i.	Departmental Research Committee and Research Development and Consultancy Cell facilitate research and consultancy.
ii.	Most of the departments are organizing research programmes related to Seminars/Workshop/Training Programmes.
iii.	Institutional mechanisms to promote research through seed money/fellowships out of university budget are not in place.

12.

Research and Publications Output:

i.	There are 163 funded research projects generating Rs.38 crores in the last 5 years.
ii	During the post accreditation period 1471 PhDs were awarded, 191 books and monographs and 3808 research papers were published.
iii.	Some faculty members have received national and state awards and two patents have been awarded.

13.

Consultancy:

i.	During the post-accreditation period structures and rules for consultancy have been instituted.
ii	In the last 3 years Rs.91 lacs is generated through consultancy which needs to be augmented
iii.	Strategies to publicize the consultancy potential of the faculty be evolved.

Extension Activities:

i.	Certain departments are having innovative extension services like psychological counseling, herbal farming and training of farmers, testing and counseling for genetic disorders.
ii	Students from many departments are participating in NSS activities.
iii	Partnership with NGOs/CBOs through MoUs for extension activities be formalized for sustainability.
iv.	Systematic impact analysis of extension programmes to be undertaken.

Collaborations:

i.	University has signed 9 MoUs recently with India and Foreign institutions for collaborative research, advanced training and twinning programmes.
ii	Several informal collaborations which exist need to be formalized.
iii.	Linkages are established with industry need to be augmented.

16.

Best Practices in Research, Consultancy and Extension (if any)

i.	Sustenance of exclusive Research Centres and creation of some new centres is a research promotional initiative of the university.
ii.	Learn while you earn is an innovative concept benefiting the students and the industry.

Criterion IV : INERASTRUCTURE AND LEARNING RESOURCES:

17.

Physical facilities for learning:

i.	Infrastructure has been enhanced in terms of Administrative Block, students’ hostel and common facility for teaching, learning and research.
ii.	State-of-art facilities available for sports.
iii.	Almost every department has a well-equipped seminar hall.

18.

Maintenance of infrastructure:

i.	The engineering division of the university has been reorganized with an exclusiv3e maintenance wing.
ii.	Budget of Rs.183.61 lacs (2006-07) is provided for building maintenance.
iii.	While campus maintenance is satisfactory, equipment and computer maintenance needs to be augmented

19.

Library as a Learning Resource:

i.	Large collection of books, manuscripts, journals, CDs, and visual resources exist and on line access for journals needs to be strengthened.
ii.	Rs.105 lacs worth books purchased in last 5 years. Grant increased from current financial year to enhance the library facilities.
iii.	Three-tier library system at the department, college and the university level is appreciable.

20.

ICT as Learning Resources:

i.	Almost all departments have computer labs which are open to the students (with prior appointment).
ii.	Teachers need to be trained to use the interactive facility of virtual/e-classrooms available on the campus.
iii.	EMMRC situated at Osmania University is a learning resource, producing useful material across select subjects and has excellent infrastructure.

21.

Other Facilities:

i.	During the post-accreditation period there has been an increment in hostels, health centre as well as sports facilities.
ii.	Facilities are provided for placement of students support for foreign students through UFRO, training for competitive exams.
iii.	Quality canteens need to be set up in different locations on the campus.

22.

Best Practices in the development of Infrastructure and Learning Resources (if any)

i.	Preservation of rare books and manuscripts has been facilitated by the Universal Digital Scanning Centre established in 2004 under the Millennium Book Project.
ii.	Fibre optic Cabling has been initiated to bring about campus wide networking and internet facilities.

Criterion V: STUDENT SUPPORT AND PROGRESSION:

23.

Student Progression:

i.	The student progression for employment ranges from 35% to 93% in Arts and Social Sciences to Engineering and Technology.
ii.	A systematic student tracking system to assess their progression from UG to PG and PG to Ph.D. needs to be streamlined.
iii.	Dropout is negligible, success rate at PG is high and performance in competitive exam is good.

24.

Student Support

i.	Adequate health service delivery mechanism through the University Health Centre for all students and staff is available.
ii.	Department-wise and college-wise placement and undertaking of a CARD Programme is laudable.
iii.	While Government sponsored Scholarships are given to disadvantaged group of students, the university may further facilitate scholarships and freeships to meritorious and economically backward students through its own resources.

25.

Student Activities:

i.	NSS Unit of the university was awarded the India Gandhi National Award for 2006.
ii.	Good performance at National and International events by the University sports team.
ii.	Competitive events in various sports and games are held at the university.

26.

Best Practices in Student Support and Progression (if any):

i.	Over 70% of the students are provided hostel accommodation.
ii.	Coaching programmes for Indian students who go abroad for further studies and for foreign students in English communication are conducted.

Criterion VI: GOVERNANCE AND LEADERSHIP

27.

Institutional Vision and Leadership:

i.	Vision, Mission and Goals of the University are effectively translated in its higher education programmes.
ii.	Institutional ownership and commitment of the leadership has led to overall development of the university.
iii.	Institutional administration has provided an ambience of valuing employees.

28.

Organizational Arrangements:

i.	The organogram of the university is as per norms through statutory bodies and advisory committee at every level.
ii.	While academic autonomy is given to the departments, administrative and financial autonomy needs to be given.
iii.	The university needs to create awareness amongst students and employees regarding functioning of grievance redressal cell and prevention of sexual harassment cell and prevention of sexual harassment cell.

29.

Strategy development and deployment:

i.	The decision making process follows an institutional approach through the executive council.
ii.	Although future directions have been indicated by the university these have not been developed perspective plan document with due approval of the statutory bodies.

30.

Human Resource Management:

i.	There has been an earnest effort to fill the vacancies in the university.
ii.	The university conducts professional development programmes for non-teaching staff and faculty development programme for teaching staff with the help of Academic Staff College.
iii.	The contents of the self-appraisal of the faculty members need to be analyzed for maximizing the potential of the faculty.

31.

Financial Management and Resource Mobilization:

i.	Automation of the finance division needs to be fully augmented to effectively monitor financial management.
ii.	Budgetary provisions are satisfactorily provided for academic and administrative activities.
iii.	Multi-pronged initiatives for resource mobilization are adopted by the university.

32.

Best Practices in Governance and Leadership (if any)

i.	Active participation of academia in university administration is observed.
ii.	Alumni Association be activated to perform value addition for resource mobilization of the university.
iii.	Creation of pension corpus fund from the university internal sources.

Criterion VII: INNOVATIVE PRACTICES

33.

Internal Quality Assurance System:

i.	Internal Quality Assurance Cell has been established formally and is functioning for the last 3 years.
ii.	While data has been collected as per IQAC requirement, analysis of the IQAC reports and internalizing the outcome of the analysis has been initiated.
iii.	An Academic Audit Cell has been instituted to look after the affiliating functioning of the colleges, however, this cell should also audit the progress of the university colleges.

34.

Inclusive Practices:

i.	Initiatives to empower the students from rural and tribal areas of the university’s jurisdiction are laudable.
ii.	University effectively undertakes special Government programmes like 21st Century Gurukulam and Jawahar Knowledge Centres which are specially designed to support socially disadvantaged groups.
iii.	While opportunities are there to enroll differently abled students, teaching, learning support and accessibility such as ramps need to be provided.

35.

Stakeholder Relationships:

i.	• The parents and alumni hold the university in high esteem.
ii.	Realizing their commitment to the alma mater the alumni have taken up institution building activities.
iii.	While the students were satisfied with the curriculum options, they expressed the need for inter-disciplinary interactions and maximum use of equipment’s.

SECTION III: OVERALLANALYSIS

36.

Institutional Strengths:

i.	Commendable infrastructure in terms of buildings and facilities like Libraries, Equipment etc.
ii	Significant resource mobilization during post-accreditation period. • Adherence to academic calendar
iii.	Centralized PG admissions for university Department and affiliated colleges.
iv.	Incremental growth in Books and Research publications as well as organization of seminars.

37.

Institutional Weaknesses:

i.	Absence of inter-disciplinary teaching and research programmes.
ii.	Lack of specific efforts to bring about national visibility of faculty and their research outputs.
iii.	Limited upkeep and maintenance of student laboratories and their amenities.
iv.	Lack of effective use of IT enabled teaching and learning services available in the university.

38.

Institutional Challenges:

i.	Building of global competence in the rural youths who have access to the university.
ii.	In view of strategic location of the university with the Institutions of Excellence around, concentrated efforts are to be made to enhance the capacity and quality of teaching and research.
iii.	Revitalizing the curriculum as per global needs and creation of adoptive knowledge.
iv.	Committed linkages with NGOs/CBOs and industries in long term community based extension programmes.
v.	Augmenting capacity building of human resources for efficient administrative management.

39.

Institutional Opportunities:

i.	Strategies to convert the above challenges into opportunities.
ii.	Effective methods to strengthen consultancies and industry interactions.
iii.	Starting of disciplines of Higher Education like fine/performing arts, inter-disciplinary science programmes like Nano Technology, social work, labour management etc. so as to inculcate creativity, employability and social commitment.
iv.	Inculcation of professional attributes, work culture and ethics to the youth of the university through higher education programmes.
v.	Effective documentation practices and efficacy of administration through system building exercises.

SECTION IV: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OUALITYENGANCEMENT OF THE INSTITUTION

School concept of administrative and academic streamlining has to be brought about among the university departments through statutory approvals with built-in administrative and financial decentralization of powers and functions.

The suggestive schools could be: Earth and Atmospheric Sciences; Biological Sciences; Physical and Mathematical Sciences; Languages, Social Sciences and Humanities etc.

Choice based credit system type of teaching-learning process with interdepartmental horizontal mobility for students and ‘credit transfer’ mechanism need to be implemented in all PG Programmes of the university.

Curriculum design and development process need to adopt a scientific and pedagogic approach based on inputs from stakeholders and emerging global trends. The capacity of the faculty needs to be enhanced with professional orientation and development of entrepreneurial skill development.

In plant/internship training/industry placement need to be included in the curricula of PG Courses of the University along with updated pedagogies and inductive methods of teaching learning process like problem-project based learning, group discussions, role play, quiz programmes, IT based interactive education besides the presently followed seminars and sessional tests.

Introduction of 5 year Integrated Courses (for 12th standard students) to build teaching and research manpower of the university. The University Research Centres are to be involved for not only Research but also to share the expertise and infrastructure for students and faculty of other related university departments.

Language Laboratories are to be established across the University. Specific budget for ‘Research’ has to be created to award university research fellowships and ‘Research Starter Grants’ for lecturers/ researchers of the university. Orientation programs on scientific writing, writing for grants, newer teaching-learner technologies etc. are to be conducted as a part of Faculty Department Programme.

Psychological counseling centres with ‘dialup help line services’ have to be established with qualified and trained full time counselors in the university and affiliated colleges.

A central instrumentation facility of sophisticated equipments with dedicated maintenance and core group technicians to assist the needy researchers and students across the university has to be established.

ICT based automation of Administration, Finance and Examination divisions need to be expedited as a total solution to bring about e-governance in a holistic manner. In order to facilitate this process, capacity building of non-teaching staff in automation and MIS management need to be institutionalized.

A phase-wise Prospective Plan for the University with strategies for resource mobilization and implementation has to be formulated with due approval of statutory bodies of the university.

The accredited institutions are graded by NAAC on a 3-letter grade as follows:

Range of institutional Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA)	Letter Grade	Performance Descriptor
3.01-4.00	A	Very Good (Accredited)
2.01-3.00	B	Good (Accredited)
1.51-2.00	C	Satisfactory (Accredited)

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