Assessment Report on

Institutional Accreditation of

Osmania University College for Women (Autonomous)

Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh

Section 1 : Preface

The seventy five year old Osmania University College for Women (Autonomous), Hyderabad is a reputed constituent college of the Osmania University. Aesthetically located in a 42 acre mansion complex of the former British resident, the ancient and historic durbars, halls and galleries are presently being put to use in shaping the destiny of 2520 young girls by providing them with quality education based on values for life. The campus houses 30 departments offering undergraduate, post graduate, M.Phil. and Ph.D. programmes.

There are 182 highly qualified faculty comprising 130 Ph.D.s and 21 M.Phil.s. The student enrolment at the undergraduate level is about 1700 and at the post graduate level 700. A unique feature of this college is that it has 42 M.Phil. and 70 Ph.D. research scholars. There are 163 non-teaching staff who facilitate the smooth conduct of academic activities in the college.

Osmania University College for Women volunteered to be assessed by NAAC and conducted the preliminary self-study in 1998. The report was submitted by the institution in February, 1999. The Peer Team constituted by the Council to visit the college and validate the self-study report. Consisted of Prof. V.R. Muthukkaruppan (Chairman), Former VC of Bharathidasan University, Prof. V. Shivkumar (member), Professor of Goa University and Prof. Anne Mary Fernandez (member), Professor of Holy Cross College, Trichy. The team visited the college for three days from March 22 to 24, 1999.

The Peer Team carefully perused and analysed the self-study report submitted by the college. During the institutional visit of three days, the committee went through all the relevant documents and papers and visited the departments and the facilities -academic, co-curricular, extra-curricular, sports and extension - of the college. The Peer Team also interacted at length with the Governing Body, the Principal, faculty, non-teaching staff, students, parents and alumnae of the college. Based on the above exercise, and keeping in mind the criteria identified by NAAC, the Peer Team has given its objective assessment of the institution in the following paragraphs.

Section 2 : Criterion-wise Analysis

Criteria I: Curricular Aspects

The curriculum is set across a wide array of arts, science, commerce and management disciplines. There are wide programme options providing flexibility in elective and core areas. The curriculum for undergraduate programmes is determined by the college, which is autonomous, while the post graduate programmes are based on the syllabi set by the university. For the undergraduate programmes 70% of the course content is based on the university syllabi in order to ensure compatibility of students for competitive mobility within the university system. The choice of subject specialisation’s both at the undergraduate and the post graduate levels is unique and they cater for the development of marketable skills. The college receives UGC grants for three vocational courses at the undergraduate level. In addition, a few job oriented certificate and diploma courses have also been introduced. The curriculum for self-financing courses in computer science and applications, electronics, chemistry and management attract a large number of competent students and this has resulted in making the new stream of education popular and successful in the college.

The curriculum is updated once in three years through a systematic procedure of approval by boards of studies and academic council. The curriculum is framed through interaction with the parent university departments and other institutions of specialisation’s. However, the feedback from students, parents and employers are not formally obtained and incorporated into the review and redesigning of curriculum Further, there is variation in the quantum of syllabus and pattern of question paper across the various courses. Extra curricular activities are incorporated into different disciplines and this helps in the fulfilment of the institutional goal to promote the all round personality development of women students.

Criteria II: Teaching, Learning and Evaluation

The college admits students on merit on a competitive basis following the quota system recommended by the government. Admissions are centralised and students are counselled to help them choose the optimum subject combinations. Tutorials and care of slow learners are done informally. Along with conventional lectures, student participation in class room activities is encouraged through seminars, projects, quiz. The medium of instruction is English mostly. Audio visual aids are used for teaching.

At the undergraduate level, student assessment is made on a continuous basis with CIA constituting 30% of the marks in the final examinations. The internal composition of CIA consists of one test for 20 marks and 10 marks for seminar/quiz/slip tests etc. CIA schedules are flexible enough to encourage student participation in sports, NCC and extra curricular activities.

The faculty are highly qualified and they have made optimum use of the university linkage with the college to pursue active research. The manpower requirements are adequately met through a close partnership with the parent departments of the university. Faculty enjoy total freedom for self development and this freedom has been availed of by almost all teachers in order to pursue different avenues of academic development. Recognition of outstanding faculty by the college with a system of awards is a salient feature. However, this college does not have a mechanism for self/student appraisal of faculty performance and there are no formal teaching plans for teachers. There is a need to systematise recording and monitoring student progression with a view to devising follow up remedial action. Computerisation of the examination system and the new coding system introduced recently are welcome measures. However, the continuous evaluation system now followed needs review and reform. The institution needs to put in serious efforts to develop question banks on the basis of the guidelines of UGC and also use other instruments of assessment.

Criteria III: Research, Consultancy and Extension

The college has an excellent research profile. The track record of 400 published papers in standard refereed journals and 50 published books is noteworthy. An impressive quantum of funds are mobilised by the faculty for ongoing research activities spanning 13 major and minor projects supported by funding agencies like UGC and DST. These projects demonstrate a high degree of motivation and participation in research activities by faculty and students. The research output of the institution is commendable: were awarded Ph.D. in the last three years; and the scholars have used the research facilities of the university. The presence of 70 Ph.D. scholars across 10 disciplines of the college demonstrates the high academic standards that the faculty have set up to contribute to diverse fields of knowledge. Many of the research projects pertain to relevant social and environmental schemes indicative of institutional interaction with society.

A substantial number of the teaching staff is involved in sharing their specialisation’s outside the college. This has helped forge links between the institution and different national agencies and industries. However, the policy on consultancy may be made clear so that the benefits of consultancy from faculty's expertise may accrue to the institution.

Students are encouraged to choose from many activities like sports, NCC, NSS and various other co-curricular and extension programmes. The involvement of students and staff in community based activities could be further enlarged.

Criteria IV: Infrastructure and Learning Resources

The college is situated in a vast campus with adequate space to house all its undergraduate, post graduate and research programmes. There is plenty of space for future expansion and growth. The beautiful gardens add to the ambience of this educational institution. The campus has adequate facilities for sports, health care, library, computer centre, canteen, firing range, centres for worship, botanical garden and green house. Sishu Ranjini, the crèche located on the campus facilitates young mothers to work as well as undertake studies at the college. There are adequate funds for maintenance of all these facilities.

The sports and physical education infrastructure has been put to good use to produce talented sports achievers including an international player. The library and computer facilities are available only between 10.00 a.m. and 04.30 p.m. on working days. There is scope for extended student usage time on both working days and holidays. The appointment of a librarian and speedy computerisation of library facilities need the immediate attention of the college. Provision can be made for an animal house to be located in the campus. The college can contemplate using the infrastructure of the campus to offer additional certificate courses outside working hours. The hostel facilities can be further expanded and the existing facilities need improvement.

Criteria V: Student Support and Progression

The college has 90% passing out rate for students after the minimum period of study. The mechanism for academic and career counselling is informal. There is no formal mechanism to collect feedback from students about the various aspects pertaining to their experiences in the campus. It is good to promote the Alumnae Association for the benefit of the college.

The placement cell caters for the needs of professional students. Two students have been successful in competitive examinations like CSIR. Financial aid is utilised by 17% of the students and there are many government, university and college scholarships for needy and meritorious students.

Criteria VI : Organisation and Management

The organisational structure of the college is according to the UGC guidelines for autonomous colleges and the functions and powers of various authorities are spelt out clearly. Most of the service conditions and other facilities for the teachers of this college are the same as those of the university teachers. This enables the mobility of teachers from the parent departments of the university to the college.

The faculty are involved in different stages of decision making. Students are represented on the academic council and the sports committee. Sufficient welfare schemes are provided for staff and faculty. The college uses new technologies in communication and demonstrates the ability to mobilise substantial funds through donations.

The finances of the college are audited and the objections raised are looked into. A corpus fund and a development fund are being generated by the college through various methods like renting the infrastructure and allocating 20% of the proceeds from self-financing courses. Though the finance of the institution is sound, additional resources may be mobilised by tapping the various programmes of UGC for further development of the programmes of the college.

Criteria VII: Healthy Practices

The college fulfils its objective of all round personality development of young girls by maintaining high academic standards in curriculum, teaching-learning, evaluation and research by providing adequate infrastructure. The stress laid on professional education, vocationalisation and computer oriented studies is appreciable.

Despite being an autonomous college, the university continues to be a major influence on most aspects of the functioning of the college. This distinctive feature has resulted in a conducive partnership between the parent departments of the university and the college, thus enhancing the overall standard of teaching and research. Autonomous status to the postgraduate courses will further enrich the academic standing of the college.

Section 3 : Overall Evaluation

As a premier institution of higher learning for women in the capital city of Hyderabad, the Osmania University College for Women has been rendering a distinguished service for the cause of women's education and development. The imparting of various academic programmes along with vocational skills has resulted in promoting women's participation in the national development process.

Fruitful partnership between the Osmania University research departments and the various faculties of the college has provided the institution with an academic ambience. Through qualitative research, teaching and co-curricular activities the institution is able to bring about holistic development in the personality of students. The academic atmosphere of the institution is further enhanced by the enthusiasm of the faculty which assures that the institution will be entering into the next millennium with greater confidence.

The college has well-knit infrastructurel facilities to enable the smooth functioning of academic programmes. The administration and the financial aspects of the institution are sound. However, in pursuance of national goals it would be worthwhile if the institution strengthens industry-institution linkages to become self-sustaining. Similarly, the strength of the alumnae and society may be drawn up to make it more beneficial to the institution.

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