Panjab University move raises eyebrows

Tribune News Service

Deepankar Sharda

Chandigarh, July 26

Struggling to complete the self-study report (SSR) to be submitted to the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), Panjab University has roped in Junior Research Fellows (JRFs) and PhD Research Fellows, a practice which has raised many eyebrows.

‘A learning platform’

This is a learning platform. It will help the researchers to prepare future students as per NAAC’s demands. A faculty member

‘It’s No research work’

Sitting at the IQAC and doing the university’s work for NAAC is nowhere near my research work. However, I have to do that. We were told that some departments of the university were facing the staff crunch. A fellow

The scholars have been asked to visit the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) of the university and compile the necessary data of their respective departments. “The rules clearly mention that we have to do academics work, but the opposite has been happening here. We are calling up former students and taking information from them. This is the work of the department and the staff, but we are being asked to perform it,” said one of the JRFs. As per one of the conditions, the fellows, with the consent of the guide/head of the respective department, may assist the university in its academic work, including tutorials, evaluation of test papers, lab demonstrations, supervision of field work, library activities, provided such work is not likely to hinder their research programme. The total amount of time to be spent on such activities should not exceed 10 hours a week.

“Sitting at the IQAC and doing the university’s work for NAAC is nowhere near my research work. However, I have to do that. We were told that some departments of the university were facing the staff crunch,” added another fellow.

The previous NAAC grade of the university expired on June 24 and there has been no clarity on the next visit of council for accreditation. During the last visit in 2015, NAAC had given the university an A-grade with a comprehensive score of 3.35, out of four.

The University Grants Commission (UGC), through a gazette notification in 2013, made it mandatory for higher educational institutions (HEIs) to undergo accreditation. The accreditation is a performance indicator for higher educational institutions and is mandatory for applying for funds from the Centre. “This is a learning platform. It will help the researchers to prepare future students as per NAAC’s demands,” said a faculty member.

Data nearing completion

The council has allowed higher educational institutions (HIEs) to submit their SSRs by August 31. “As per the resolution, it is hereby notified to the HEIs that the definition of data collection (2021-22) for assessment will be now from June 1 to August 31 for NAAC SSR,” read a notification. “We are close to completing the SSR and it will be filed well before time,” said one of the spokespersons of the university.

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