Higher Education Academic and Administrative Audit team conducts five-year audit at Pfutsero Government College to evaluate performance
DIMAPUR — An Academic and Administrative Audit (AAA) team constituted by the Department of Higher Education conducted an audit of the functioning of Pfutsero Government College on October 17.
The audit assessed a period of five years covering the academic years 2021 to 2026. The AAA serves as an internal audit within the Higher Education department, Government of Nagaland.
The audit team comprised Dr. Watijungshi, retired Additional Director of Higher Education, as Convenor, along with Dr. Temjenwapang, Principal of Kohima Science College (Autonomous), and Dr. Ketoukhrie-u, Associate Professor and Internal Quality Assurance Committee (IQAC) Coordinator at Kohima College, as members.
During the audit, presentations on the college administration and developmental activities were delivered by Principal Dr. Anungla Pongener, while reports on internal quality based on seven parameters assessed by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) were presented by IQAC Coordinator Dr. Thungdemo N Yanthan. Departmental activities were highlighted by the respective heads of departments.
The audit team also held consultations with the college student union executives and the non-teaching staff and physically verified the college infrastructural facilities before providing feedback on areas of improvement.
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Dr. Watijungshi commended the college for being granted recognition under UGC 2(f) under higher educational institutions categorisation, but highlighted the urgency for the college to be recognised under Section 12(b) to become eligible to access major funding for various projects.
He urged the IQAC to establish functional MoUs with institutions. He also noted the importance of a green audit, explaining that it includes different categories, with dedicated tree plantation being an important component.
Dr. Temjenwapang noted the importance of outcomes under the soon-to-be-announced NAAC Assessment Framework and called upon the IQAC to develop robust data collection and reporting mechanisms. Pointing out that faculty research output would be an important outcome in the new framework, he called upon the faculty to undertake multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary collaborative research.
Dr. Ketoukhrie-u encouraged the college to guide students in their career paths and establish mechanisms for job placements. She suggested consolidating complaint committees to oversee grievances regarding gender discrimination, ragging, and other forms of discrimination, rather than maintaining multiple non-functioning committees. Highlighting the importance of the traditional knowledge system in the new assessment framework, she suggested establishing a Traditional Knowledge Committee in addition to the existing Cultural Committee.
The college also received several suggestions from the audit team, including the introduction of a gender budget, encouraging feedback mechanisms from students on classroom activities, exploring funding through corporate social responsibility initiatives, civil societies, and alumni, developing the library at the new campus, enhancing skilling programmes, and improving Wi-Fi coverage across the college.