SSR: MAIN BODY DESCRIPTION

CRITERION 1: CURRICULAR ASPECTS 

1.1 Curricular Planning and Implementation 

1.1.1 The Institution ensures effective curriculum delivery through a well planned and documented process. 

Description:

Indira Gandhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences in strict adherence to the norms of its regulatory bodies, namely, Biju Patnaik University of Technology, Rourkela, Odisha, (prior to 2023), Odisha University of Health Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, (since 2023), Pharmacy Council of India, New Delhi, and All India Council of Technical Education, New Delhi, delivers the pharmacy curriculum as provided by the university every year, ensuring its effectiveness through well planned and documented process. 

Before the beginning of each session, the Academic Committee of the institute conducts meeting with the staff members of the heads of the departments where various strategies and action plans are developed for effective implementation of the pharmacy curriculum. Internal meeting of each department is also conducted in the department before the commencement of the academic year to develop academic plans for effective curriculum delivery. 

The syllabus as provided by the university has already been divided into units and each unit has been allotted with the prescribed number of teaching hours. The number of working days in each academic year as per the academic calendar is put against the number of teaching hours as prescribed in each unit and thus the class schedule for each subject is made. This helps in covering of all topics and completing the course in time. Teachers are, if required, encouraged to modify presentations, assignments, discussions  workshops, seminars, etc. apart from regular/traditional teaching methods. 

The curriculum is delivered through theory and practical classes strictly by the time table. The hours of curriculum delivery for each subject each semester is equated with the time as prescribed in the university syllabus. Apart from prescribed sessional examinations, laboratory viva-voce in each department is also held regularly where the students are assessed for their curricular understanding and development. Curriculum based industrial tours and training programs are organised and project works are conducted. 

The institute is always watchful and remains updated about the latest developments in the industry and studies the compatibility of the syllabus prescribed by the university vis-a-vis the latest industry needs and if any, the students are given additional lessons in seminars, additional classe, etc. 

The institute has a proctor for each semester. Under the mentor-mentee system, the students have been distributed among the mentors. Both proctors and mentors have their respective roles and responsibilities and they remain deeply concerned about psychological and emotional needs of the students. They provide the students necessary guidance, advice, feedback and support and help them improve their curricular standard and deal with their health and emotional problems, if any.

1.1.2  The institution adheres to the academic calendar including for the conduct of CIE.

Description: 

The university publishes the academic calendar every year before the commencement of the program. This calendar is downloaded from the university website. Commensurating this calendar, the institute prepares its annual academic calendar and the same is uploaded on the institute's website http://www.igips.org/academic calendar. 

The calendar contains a schedule of semester wise important events and activities for the academic year which includes commencement of classes, co-curricular/extracurricular activities, vacations, Government/institution holidays, conduct of theory and practical examinations, registration dates, etc.

The Committee for Internal Examinations (CIE) follows the guidelines and advice of the institute's IQAC and the Academic Committee while preparing the time table for class work and the schedule for sessional examinations, based on the institute academic calendar. The academic calendar is also followed while conducting sessional examinations, quizzes, assignments, etc.

Before the commencement of internal examinations, the subject teachers submit in the examination section the question papers duly approved by the respective HoDs. The examinations are conducted udder CCTV surveillance. Two to three number of invigilators are assigned to invigilate in each examination hall of 40-60 examinees. After evaluation, the answer papers are shown to the students. If any students have any queries regarding their answers written on the papers, such as mistakes in evaluation or posting or totalling of marks, if any, the concerned faculty members address those issues and necessary corrections are made. In case of wrong or incomplete or no answers, the students are given improvement examinations to write. The marks secured by the students are entered in the university examination portal as per the university direction, a copy of which is kept in the examination section. 

1.3 Curriculum Enrichment 

1.3 1 Institution integrates crosscutting issues relevant to Professional Ethics, Gender, Human Values, Environment and Sustainability into the Curriculum 

Description:  

Indira Gandhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, has various committees and through these committees conducts several programs in order to integrate crosscutting issues relevant to professional ethics, gender, human values, environment and sustainability into the curriculum and while conducting the programs the institute follows the government guidelines. 

In particular, programs like plantation programs, blood donation camp, health camp, cancer awareness program, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, AIDS awareness rally, etc. are conducted every year with direct involvement of the students who get to feel the importance of social service, gender equality, clean environment, sustainable growth, professional ethics, etc. through these programs. 

Different national and international days and weeks such as National Pharmacy Week, World Pharmacy Day, International Women's Day, World Library Day, Teacher's Day, National Constitution Day, etc. are celebrated in the institute every year to make the students aware of the issues and inculcate in them human values, social and ethical standards, professional ethics. In addition to participating in different flagship programs announced by MHRD, and PCI, the students are also encouraged to participate in the state, national and international level seminars and conferences organized by universities, OPIF, APTI, IPA and other professional bodies. 

The students of the institute regularly participate in intra-college, inter-college competitions in sports and co-curricular/extracurricular activities which help them gain confidence and competitive edge. Due priorities are given to girl students to participate in the programs.

The institute has a plastic-free campus and green environment and is bordered with the Ekamra Kanan Botanical Park and the Regional Plant Research Center, two separated parts of the Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary. 

CRITERION 2: TEACHING, LEARNING AND EVALUATION 

2.3 Teaching-Learning Process 

2.3.1 Student centric methods, such as experiential learning, participative learning and problem solving methodologies are used for enhancing learning experiences 

Description:  

IGIPS has adopted hands-on teaching methods which are highly student centric and based on experiential learning, participative learning and problem solving methodologies. This helps the students enhance their learning experiences. 

Experiential Learning :-

Experiential learning is the process of learning through experience/reflection. That the students assimilate and process information as they concretely experience, reflectively observe, abstractly conceptualize and actively experiment. Through experiential learning the students are provided higher degree of thoughts relating to a particular subject of pharmacy. As the teacher relates the subject content to practical life situations in pharmaceutical industries, research organizations, academics, hospitals,  educational institutions, pharmaceutical marketing, etc. The institute also has e-learning system which provides the students a conducive environment for experiential learning remotely. 

Pharmacy is an applied science. The professionals are required to apply their theoretical knowledge in productive activities such as formulation development for a specific purpose, pharmacological screening of chemical substances, analysis of the chemical substances of drugs, etc. So the students have to learn through several multi-disciplinary subjects such as pharmaceutical chemistry, medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutical analysis, pharmaceutics, pharmacology, pharmacognosy, pharmaceutical biotechnology, etc. The learning of the above subjects is made through theory as well as practical classes where the students are actively engaged to learn real and authentic interconnected processes. 

Participative Learning :-

The institute has adopted a participative learning method which is based on the principles of flexible, adaptive and innovative learning as opposed to the top-down or rigid method of learning. The institute honors the right of each and every student to participate in the teaching-learning process. Shy and introvert students are trained separately to speak up and change their attitude and behaviors. Diverse methods of teaching are adopted so that the students with unequal standards get learn and acquire the knowledge equally. Use of small groups, concrete materials, peer teaching, open questioning, etc. are some of the methods. The methods are learner centered and interactive as there is a reflective teaching and learning approach. 

Problem Solving Methodologies :-

The institute identifies the problems faced by the students in learning, analyzes possible solutions and decides the best course of action through problem-solving techniques which involve a systematic and logical approach which defines the problem at the beginning, then breaks the problem down, brainstorms and generates possible solutions and at last implements the best solution. Besides, potential future problems are anticipated and prevented by suitable advance actions. Skills of critical thinking, decision making, creativity, and information processing are exercised in this approach. 

The students are provided tutorial/doubt-clearing classes. Different activities related to conceptual understanding of the subject are assigned to the students. They are allowed to think individually and ask questions to the teacher at the end of each theory and practical class. Slow learners are identified, then they are provided additional sessions to help them improve their comprehension skills and understanding of the subject at par with their peers. The university has also incorporated 'practice school' in the 7th semester syllabus, where the students are benefitted through project-based learning, seminars, discussions, etc.

In regards the project-based learning, the students are encouraged to carry out in-house research projects. The institute has rich research facilities with necessary infrastructural and knowledge resources. Apart from well-equipped laboratories, various national and international journals including the e-journals of Elsevier/Bentham are made available to the students for their ready reference. Respective teaching guides thoroughly supervise B.Pharm and M.Pharm final year students to increase their research interest and improve their research capability and skills with a special focus on the current research scenario. 

All the above methodologies are supported through innovative pedagogy through the use of smart classrooms, smart boards, Google Meet, Sheet, Zoom, YouTube, Spotify, WhatsApp, Gmass, audio-visual lectures, PPT, PDF files, links of various e-resources, power-point presentations, virtual presentations and softwares like CADD, Word Press, OBS, Google Form, Mentemeter, etc.