Goenka College of Commerce and Business Administration

INTERNAL QUALITY ASSURANCE CELL

•  Activities reflecting the goals and objectives of the institution:

To cater to the needs of the country for commercial education, hundred and three years ago Goenka College was established to provide state of the art of commerce education in India . The college, since its inception in 1905, was a catalyst of new ideas, concepts and skills in the field of commerce education. This mission and vision of the founders have remained a perennial source of inspiration for the college in reshaping its goals and objectives with changing times. The activities reflecting these goals and objectives of the institution are:

•  providing best possible Commerce education at the undergraduate level;

•  providing post-graduate education in Commerce and stimulating academic research;

•  providing academic guidance to our students to face the challenges of various career-oriented and professional examinations conducted by the reputed institutions like the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, the Institute of Cost and Works Accountant of India and the Institute of Company Secretaries of India;

•  providing training to sharpen the entrepreneurial skills dormant in the students by exposing them to real life situation;

•  organising seminars on burning issues in the field of Commerce;

•  publishing a magazine to reflect the viewpoints of the faculties and the students on contemporary issues.

•  New academic programmes initiated (UG and PG) :

No new academic programme has been initiated during the year. But the college is exploring avenues for opening some career-oriented courses soon.

3. Innovations in curricular design and transaction:

Being an affiliated college under the University of Calcutta , it cannot design curriculum and syllabi independently. However, several teachers of the college being in the Undergraduate Board of Studies of the University of Calcutta and other universities in West Bengal , the college plays an important role in the curricular design of the universities.

The post-graduate section of the college enjoys academic autonomy. However, being in the cutting-edge of commerce education, the college has its representation in the Post-graduate Faculty Council of the University of Calcutta . This enables us to take a common strategy in respect of the teaching and curricular design at the PG level.

4. Inter-disciplinary programmes started:

The need for interdisciplinary knowledge is well appreciated by the college. Therefore, braving the regulatory hurdles of the affiliating university, the college runs a language cell, an entrepreneurship cell and an environment cell to impart non-credit courses through these cells. The teachers of the Department of Accountancy, Management and Economics are considering a scheme of starting a Centre for Business and Sustainable Development to initiate interdisciplinary research in Environmental Accounting/Auditing, Environmental Law, Environmental Economics and Environmental Ethics and other business related areas.

5. Examination reforms implemented:

The College is following the reforms initiated by the affiliating university through the newly introduced 1+1+1 system of examination.

The PG section of the college also follows a similar pattern of examination, i.e., 1+1 system.

6. Candidates qualified: NET / SLET / GATE etc.:

Quite a good number of our students have cracked the NET/SLET and other tests for MBA programme.

Simultaneously with the B. Com Course, most of our undergraduate students appear for CA/ICWA programmes. Quite a good number of the students also appear for GMAT/GRE and other entrance tests for the MBA programme of reputed institutions in India and abroad. Besides, students pursuing M.Com course in our college and elsewhere also appear for NET/SLET Examinations. However, in the absence of Graduate Destination Records the exact number of successful students in those examinations cannot be ascertained. We contemplate to develop a database in this respect.

7. Initiatives towards faculty development programme:

Several teachers have participated in Orientation Programme and the Refreshers' Course sponsored by the Academic Staff College of different Universities across the country.

The teachers have also participated in various State-level and National level seminars / conference/ workshops across the country.

Faculty development initiatives of the college include the following:

•  The College encourages the teachers to pursue PhD programmes.

•  Eligible teachers are sent to the UGC sponsored Refresher Courses and Orientation Programme on regular basis.

•  Teachers are encouraged to obtain UGC sponsored Minor Research Projects.

•  Teachers are encouraged and granted leave to participate at the state level and National level seminars.

•  Teachers are granted appropriate leave for collaborative research and post-doctoral research outside India .

8. Total number of seminars/workshops conducted:

During 2008 the college has conducted the following seminars:

9. Research projects

•  Newly implemented: 1

•  Completed: 2

10. Patents generated, if any:

Not Applicable.

11. New collaborative research programmes: Nil

12 . Research grants received from various agencies :

13. DETAILS OF RESEARCH SCHOLAR:

14. CITATION INDEX OF FACULTY MEMBERS & IMPACT FACTOR:

Detail List of Publication in the last academic session

(Research papers, Review Articles/book chapters, abstract in seminars/symposia, Edited Books/Journals, paper articles) :

Accountancy

Management

Economics

Resource Studies

Bengali

Business Mathematics

Commercial & Industrial law

15. Honours/Awards to the faculty: Nil

16 . Internal resources generated:

Being a Government institution, the college is not permitted to generate resources of its own. All the collections from students on account of tuition fees and other sources are deposited in the Government exchequer and all disbursements on account of salaries and other payments are met by the Government.

17. Details of departments getting SAP, COSIST (ASSIST)/DST. FIST, etc.

assistance/recognition: Not applicable

18. Community services:

Community services are one of the healthy practices followed at Goenka College . The college through its Students' Union conducts blood donation camp on regular basis. The students' Union also dispenses medicines to the poor and the needy people in the neighbourhood.

Now-a-days, sustainable development is a buzzword. But in Goenka College there is practical articulation of its tenets that the well-being of the humanity is inextricably linked to the well-being of the Earth and its health. To this end, “Mrittika” the nature club of the college is working relentlessly for environmental awareness programme. Consistent with its past activities, the Nature Club has carried out the following activities during 2007-2008:

•  on 11 th March, 2008 it had organised an audio-visual presentation on Environmental Science under UGC sponsored programme. The distinguished speakers were Dr. Pranabesh Sanyal and Dr. Ashish Ghosh. The Film “ An Inconvenient Truth ” by Al Gore, the Nobel Peace Prize winner of 2007, was also shown.

•  on 15 th March, 2008 , A tour programme on the Bio-diversity of Sunderbans in collaboration with the WWF had been a huge success. Both the students and teachers participated in substantial numbers. Dr. Sangita Mitra, a resource person from WWF, enlightened all with her expert commentary on the biodiversity of the Sunderbans. Number of participants in the programme included 85 students and 6 teachers.

•  The WWF organised an exhibition and conservation awareness programme on TIGER. The Mrittika Club of the Cell participated and was immensely benefited by the exposure to the photos of Tigers.

•  An awareness programme on conservation of nature in collaboration with the WWF at the seminar Hall of the college was organised by the Mrittika on 18 th September, 2008 .

•  “Save the Tiger” a signature campaign (initiated by the WWF) received an overwhelming response from the students, teachers and non-teaching staff of our college. These ‘canvas' have been forwarded to the Central Govt. of India.

•  A Human Chain formed by the members of the nature cell and other students of the college was organised by Mrittika on 24 th September to save a Banyan tree at the junction of College Street and B.B. Ganguly Street near the Central Station of the METRO. Preceding this movement, a mass Petition was organised by the Nature Cell and sent to the following Officials.

•  DFO, Forest Utilization Division, Kolkata – 1

•  PCCF Aranya Bhavan, Salt Lake , Kolkata – 98

•  Officer-in-Charge, Bowbazar Police Station

•  MIC Parks and Gardens, Kolkata – 1

•  Member Secretary of West Bengal Pollution Control Board.

It was given prominent coverage in the Times of India (Times City Page) of 25 th September, 2008 .

•  In a Tree Planting Programme by the Times of India on 30 th September, 2008 , the Mrittika participated on invitation from the organizers. The Mayor and other dignitaries were present and appreciated the role played by our students. Two saplings provided by the organizers were brought over and planted on the premises of our college.

19. Teachers and Officers newly recruited (01.04.2007 – 31.03.2008):

As a government College , the staff strength of the college changes mainly due to transfer to/from other Government Colleges in the State of West Bengal and new recruitment. During the year 2007-2008, there was addition to staff as under:

20. Teaching, Non-teaching staff ratio (01.04.2007 – 31.03.2008)

• Improvement of Library Services:
• Library software: Purchase of new software like “LIBSYS” is under active consideration.
• OAPC: The College library is in the process of introduction of OAPC (Online Public Access Cataloguing).
• Others: Internet service in the library is available to the students. The library also provides reprographic serves to the teachers and the students.

•  New books /Journals subscribed and their cost:

•  Courses in which student assessment of teachers is introduced and the action taken on students feedback:

•  Unit cost of education:

(a) Unit Cost = Actual annual expenditure / Number of students enrolled in the year

(b) Unit Cost (except salary)

•  Computerization of administration and the process of admissions and examination results, issue of certificates:

•  Computerization of administrative functions is a discerning feature of any modern office and Goenka College is not lagging behind in this respect. Eight computers are devoted for office and administrative purposes.

The admission process of the college is partially computerised. To avoid the long queue and inconveniences to the admission seekers, admission forms are now made available through the website of the college ( www.goenkacollege.org ). The College also publishes computer-processed results and issues computerised mark sheet to the students.

•  The question papers are internally composed and printed with the help of computer facilities available in the college.

•  Increase in the infrastructural facilities:

There is continuous upgradation of college infrastructure. A proposal has been made to the Dept. of Higher Education, Govt. of West Bengal for vertical extension of the administrative building of the College.

•  Technology upgradation:

The upgradation of the existing technology is a need of the day. Previously, while giving class lectures teachers used to take help of the photo phones for projection of study materials. Now sophisticated LCD projectors with computer interface are being used for this purpose.

•  Computer and internet access and training to teachers and students:

Information Technology and Management Information System are integral part of the Undergraduate and Postgraduate curriculums. The College has a sprawling Computer Lab which caters to the need for practical classes in the Information Technology subject. In general, computer literacy and Internet usage among the teachers and the staff are high. Three faculties of the college have acquired diplomas on various computer training courses.

Internet is an integral part of the computerization facilities of the college. The teachers' study, the Computer Lab, the Library and the administrative office is connected by LAN and Internet facilities.

•  Financial aid to students:

Free studentship and concession in tuition fees are some of the measures for rendering financial help to the needy and poor students. On the recommendation of the Student Aid Cell the case of such students are forwarded to the Director of Public Instruction, the controlling office of the college, for necessary approval.

•  Support from the Alumni Association and its activities:

The College has distinguished alumni who help the College Placement Cell to make a tie-up with different companies for campus recruitment

The College has an Alumni Association, but for a variety of reasons it has remained inactive at present. Efforts are being made to make the association rejuvenate it.

•  Support from the Parent –Teacher Association and its activities :

There is no such a type of Association in our college. The college is pondering over the matter for future consideration.

•  Health services:

The college maintains a first aid centre to combat emergency. Our institution always enjoys the medical facilities from Goenka Medical Centre which is supported by number of doctors. The Goenka Medical Centre, Bidhan Sarani, Kolkata- 700006, belongs to the University of Calcutta . Since the college is under the said university, automatically it is entitled to enjoy the medical facilities including medical check-up. As our college is a Government institution, according to Government norms the college always obtains the facilities from the Medical College of Calcutta which is adjacent to our college.

33. Performance in Sports Activities

34. Incentive to outstanding sports persons:

Except for the statutory provisions (like incentives to SC/ST) Government rules do not permit for any kind of incentives/ extra privileges to the outstanding sports persons. However, the Government of West Bengal directly helps the outstanding sports persons through its Ministry of Sports.

35. Student achievements and awards :

36. Activities of the Guidance and Counselling Cell:

With a view to preparing the students for the job market, the college maintains a Guidance and Counselling Cell. The functions of the cell are as follows:

a. Development of spoken and communicative English,

b. Development of writing technique,

c. Interview procedure learning,

d. Speech procedure learning,

e. Dialogue procedure learning,

f. Etiquette learning,

g. General knowledge development

37. Placement services provided to students:

We also maintain a placement cell for the students. The cell collects information regarding avenues for employment, type of post, number of posts and thereafter arranges for interviews and appointment. During the period under review, we arranged for campus interview on 2.5. 2008 in which the following organisations have participated:

•  Larsen & Toubro Limited for the post of Graduate Trainee. Final interview was held on 6.5. 2008 in their office. Ten students were selected for the posts.

•  GENPACT for the post of trainee. Campus interview was held on 15. 12. 2008. Final interview was held on 16. 1. 2009 in their office. Six students appeared and four was selected.

We are trying to maintain nexus with the different Chamber of Commerce to generate future employment avenues.

38. Development programmes for non- teaching staff.

The College organises development programme for the non-teaching staff by way of arranging series of speech on Service Rules, Income tax law , Constitutional law particularly, Article 226, Environmental Science, etc. The teachers belonging to Law Department, Accountancy Department, and Environmental Science Department participated in the programme. Some of the employees participated at the time of academic tour and field study programme.

39. Best practices of the institution:

The following are the best practices of the institution:

i. Installation of website of the college,

ii. Activities of Guidance and Counselling Cell

iii. Activities of Placement and Service Cell

iv. Activities of Nature Cell

v. Activities of Entrepreneurship Development Cell

vi. Publication of academic journal

vii. Activities of First Aid Centre

viii. Development programmes for non- teaching staff.

ix. Installation of computer laboratories

x. Development of Teachers' Study

xi. Teachers' indoor game arrangement

xii. Students Common room arrangement

xiii. Students' Canteen

xiv. Separate Teachers' Canteen

xv. Annual sports arrangement

xvi. Foundation day celebration with foundation lecture

xvii. Seminar arrangement (UGC sponsored, Govt. sponsored)

xviii. Students' debate competition

xix. Students' annual cultural programme

xx. Students' participation in gymnasium.

xxi. Annual sports activities

xxii. Student participation in inter- college competition

xxiii. Students' academic tour

xxiv Students' participation in rural development activities

xxv. Observance of Independence Day

xxvi. Activities of Disciplinary Committee

xxvii Guardians' meeting with principal and teachers

xxviii. Students' Union activities

xxix. Activities on ‘NSS Programme'

40. Linkages development with National / International, Academic / Research bodies:

A good number of our faculties are members of the reputed research bodies like the Indian Accounting Association, Indian Economic Association and the International Institute of Development Studies. The teachers regularly participate in the National and International Seminars organised by these organisations.

41. Any other relevant information:

The college has taken the initiative for vertical expansion of its building for rearrangement of library, commencement of MBA course and shifting of P.G. Department. Arrangement for own generator, setting up another lift, construction of a modern auditorium are some of our infrastructure development plans which are on the anvil.

More on Part C