IGIPS-SSR : EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

1.1. INTRODUCTION  

"Unless the educator himself is educated, it is not possible to help the student to break down his limitations... Now, is the educator willing to educate himself?...Is he willing to understand his own status...his limitations and break through them as much as he can, thereby helping children to break through?" 

                        -- Jiddu Krishnamurti 

      Indian philosopher and New World Teacher 

"A true teacher must always be the most diligent student." 

                          -- Maxim Gorky, 

         Russian-Soviet writer and political activist

"The great aim of education is not knowledge but action."

                         --  Herbert Spenser

           English philosopher and psychologist 

These above three are among many of the great quotes which have been displayed on the walls of this institute that mainly guide the educational services of the Indira Gandhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (IGIPS), Bhubaneswar, Odisha, and reflect the vision and mission of the institute. 

Registered under the Socities Registration Act 1860 vide registration no. ________, Indira Gandhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (IGIPS), Bhubaneswar-15, came into existence with its establishment in the heart of the capital of Odisha, in the year 1987, with a strong mission to provide global standard pharmacy education in the state. Since then the institute has restlessly been imparting, upgrading and strengthening pharmacy education and has emerged as the first-choice college for the students of the state. In its more than three-decade-long glorious existence, the institute has provided pharmacy education in diploma, UG, and PG programs to the students of the state as well as the students from other states of the country. While diploma course in pharmacy (D.Pharm) was first introduced in the year ___, later UG course in pharmacy (B.Pharm) with intake capacity of 40 was started in the year 1999. The number of B.Pharm seats increased to 60 in _____ and at present it is 100 since ______. Following the introduction of UG program, the institute started its PG program in the subjects ______ in 2005 and currently provides M.Pharm in as many as 05 no. of subjects namely, ______. While the institute is affiliated to the Odisha State Board of Pharmacy of the state for D.Pharm course, the Biju Patnaik University of Technology, Rourkela, Odisha, has been the affiliating body for B.Pharm and M.Pharm courses, but since 2023, the institute is affiliated to the Odisha University of Health Sciences(OUHS), Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Prior to 2003, the institute was affiliated to Utkal University, Odisha, for B.Pharm programme. 

The institute has without any negligence stood up to the aspirations of the talented students from various echelons of the society and catered to the needs of the pharmacy sectors of the country with top class pharma professionals in education, research, production, marketing, entrepreneurship, and other fields.

The institute is fully fledged with a massive building, a grand library, quality laboratories, smart classrooms, computer lab, sports center, playground, badminton courts, hostels, and other required infrastructural facilities. The faculty of the institute consists of highly qualified teachers with long experiences in teaching and research who are passionate about inculcating true knowledge and a strong value system in the minds of the students. The institute has a solid group of non-teaching staff who are always kind and helpful to students and with the teachers take personal care of the students and make them feel the institute as a home away from home. 

The 21st century world has come with new challenges, brought new dynamics and set new standards. New challenges make us set new equations in order to survive and develop. On one side is the new economy that preaches global knowledge, global market and global services and on the other, there are volatile economy, adversely growing environment, spread of epidemics, outbreaks of pandemics, and other adversities. This situation demands that the global health education system must be increasingly competent and productive to produce well-learned and skilful human beings with global competencies to endure through all adversities and create a beautiful new world without problems, conflicts and tragedies with a safe, peaceful and prosperous world. Towards achieving this goal, the institute adopts latest technology, new pedagogical methods, ICT-based teaching-learning, new adoptions from studies and researches, etc.

Accordingly, the institute with the holistic approach to education has been striving hard continuously and the mission of the institute has been not only to impart right knowledge and provide related training and skills but also to build the students up with universal values, life skills, professional virtues, intellectualism, physical personality, social intelligence and spiritual and ethical standards while creating in their mind the vision and challenges of the future. 

The presentation of the Self Study Report shows both strengths and weaknesses of the institute at this moment and its resolve to overcome the present obstacles and replace the weaknesses with additional strengths as well as excel in each and every aspect in the coming future. 

Vision & Mission 

 

While the vision of the institute is to be a premier institute of pharmaceutical education and research of international standing in India, the mission is to provide quality education to the students, with up-to-date knowledge, sufficient training and skills and inculcate in them right values so as they grow as competent and responsible pharmacists  to the very needs of the healthcare system in all the aspects from academic to research to entrepreneurship.

Criteria-wise Summary:

Curricular Aspects 

Since 2023, Indira Gandhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences has been affiliated to the newly established Odisha University of Health Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, and strictly follows the pharmacy curricula as prescribed by the university, effectively through the action plan developed by the institute. Previously, the institute was affiliated to the Biju Patnaik University of Technology, Rourkela, Odisha, and had been implementing the pharmacy curriculum of the BPUT since 2003.

The institute offers 01 no. of pharmacy UG program and 05 no. of PG programs in different 

pharmacy subjects and all programs follow the elective curriculum. The institute has remained highly concerned with proper implementation of the pharmacy curriculum that the students apart from acquiring the best theoretical knowledge can gain mastery over its applicability. For this, the institute restlessly works for the holistic development of the students through a number of value-added courses every year and programs like soft skills development programs, employability skills development programs, personality development, etc. are conducted regularly. Besides, English Communication skills which is part of the regular curriculum, among non-university subjects, is taught in the first semester of the UG program. 

The institute is always guided by its vision and mission and accordingly prepares a road map at the beginning of every year for effective curriculum delivery. Flexible time table, ideally allotted workload, use of ICT tools, use of various academic software, on-the-job training, feedback mechanism, and other tools are regularly implemented. Students undertake field projects, internship and on-the-job training every year. Different curriculum enrichment programs such as orientation programs, seminars, symposia, workshops, faculty development programs, guest lectures, awareness programs, etc. are organized. The crosscutting issues relevant to professional ethics and human values are effectively integrated into the curriculum through workshops and personality development programs. 

The institute has online feedback collection system through which feedback related to syllabus and curriculum is collected and the institute's Academic Committee use this feedback in taking required measures. The students are also encouraged to pursue the internship in hospitals and pharmaceutical industries for first-hand experience. 

Teaching-learning and Evaluation 

 

The institute is well aware of the teaching-learning methodology and its multi-faceted concept and takes sufficient care to enrich the curriculum. To ensure effectiveness of the teaching-learning process, various student centric methods like experiential learning, industrial & hospital training etc. are adopted. Simulation based teaching-learning is promoted through use of X-pharmacology simulation software. 

The institute strictly adheres to the academic calendar for completion of course work and conduct of examinations. The teachers have their own lesson plans and they follow the plans strictly as per the plans. In teaching, they use the most advanced pedagogical tools like smart board, projector, ERP software, etc. The institute has well-equipped laboratories with sophisticated facilities such as central instruments facility, machine room, animal house, etc. to facilitate teaching and learning. The teachers regularly monitor student performance through different tests. Surprise Test, Assignment Quiz, Laboratory Viva-voce on every experiment are conducted on semester basis. Special classes are conducted for the weaker students. Slow learners and advanced learners are identified based on their academic performance and student-teacher interaction during mentor-mentee sessions and efforts are promptly made to address their needs. The teachers themselves regularly update their knowledge through research, refresher courses, presentation of papers in various seminars and workshops, etc. 

In addition to the academic activities, sports, games, debates, dance, music and other extracurricular events are organized. The students also participate in field trips, educational trips, projects and surveys to get application oriented knowledge. 

The students are asked to evaluate the teachers through the student feedback mechanism and the parents are also asked to give their valued suggestions in order to make the teaching effective and student-friendly. The institute's IQAC constantly monitors the academic standard and gives appropriate suggestions if needed.

The teaching-learning process is verified by the academic committee in consultation with the concerned Heads of the Departments under the direct supervision of the Principal. The Principal makes regular inspection of classroom teaching and interacts with the students directly for any possible improvements. 

The institute's examination committee deals with examination related grievances in a time-bound manner. End semester improvement is allowed as per the university rules. Attainment of learning outcomes is evaluated by direct and indirect assessment tools. 

The library of the institute has 9000 number of books with 900 number of titles and several national and international hard copy journals, periodicals and newspapers. The library has been digitalized with DELNET software which holds a large collection of books, e-books, periodicals, magazines, subscribed e-journals and online e-resources. The institute is a member of National Digital Library and also subscribed to National Library.

The institute has IT facilities which include computer laboratories with LAN. Digitalization is promoted through IT enabled services by biometric reporting, e-language software, managing software and they are regularly maintained. 

Research, Innovations and Extension 

Research is an endless course of education and plays a vital part in the teaching-learning process of an educational institution. Regular research by the teachers enriches teaching which in turn aids the students in learning. The teachers of the institute contribute papers to various journals of national and international repute. Majority teachers have been awarded Ph.D degree. Some of them are guides to research scholars at Ph.D level. Some faculty members are pursuing their doctorate program. The teachers those are engaged in Ph.D work are granted study leaves by the institute. The institute also allows duty leave for the presentation of papers in various national and international seminars. 

The institute has strong infrastructure for research activities. The institute is enriched with  sophisticated instruments like FTIR, HPLC,  UV-Visible Spectrophotometer, etc. It has research laboratories, a grand library, computer lab, photocopy facility, internet connection, audio-visual kits, and other relevant equipment for the purpose. To facilitate literature review the institute has subscribed to online e-journals from Elsevier, Bentham Science and DELNET. The CPCSEA has approved the animal house of the institute. 

State and national level seminars, multiple training programs, faculty development programs and workshops are conducted regularly. Reputed personalities from the field of pharmacy as well as inter-discipliary fields are invited in different such occasions which help the teachers get innovative ideas and enrich themselves. The institute procures new journals, periodicals, etc. as required for research time to time. The institute has functional MoUs with pharmaceutical industries, hospitals, academic institutions, and research institutes for conducting research activities and for student training.

The career counseling cell of the institute liaisons with pharmaceutical industries and creates job opportunities for the students. Different add-on and application oriented programs are conducted in the institute in order to provide the students the cutting edge. The students regularly participate in different extension and outreach activities. Different community and social programs such as tree plantation, blood donation, health awareness programs, Swatch Bharat Abhiyan, campaigns against drug abuse, environmental pollution, etc. are undertaken in which students in large number participate voluntarily. 

The institute building is also spared for conducting competitive examinations, general elections, etc. It is also used as the cyclone shelter for the Saliasahi busti dwellers.