National Agriculture Education Accreditation Council. AIC Report. Prof. Dr. Rasheed Ahmad Dr. Muhammad Zubair. March 13, 2014

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1 National Agriculture Education Accreditation Council 98 AIC Report Prof. Dr. Rasheed Ahmad Dr. Muhammad Zubair March 13, 2014 Department of Forestry, Range & Wildlife Management Islamia University, Bahawalpur NAEAC Secretariat, Room# N-2, N Block(Sports Block), 0 Old COMSATS Building, HEC, H-8/1, Islamabad Ph# , Fax# Website: infonaeac@yahoo.com 0

2 AIC Report on Forestry, Range Management and Wildlife, UCA, ISLAMIA UNIVERSITY, BAHAWALPUR EXECUTIVE SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The Department of Forestry, Range Management and Wildlife established in 2012 focuses on the sustainable utilization of integrated natural resource management emphasizing teaching, research and outreach activities. The department has five regular faculty members out of which four are Ph.Ds having an average 5 years of teaching experience. Curriculum adopted is in line with HEC approved curriculum Faculty members have published an overall 40 publications out of which 05 are in impact factor journals. Teachers make use of different assessment instruments like quizzes, assignments, projects/seminars, sessional,. mid and final term examinations.. Department lacks its own library and books pertaining to different subjects are not adequate in the central library. Budget for the department is adequate to meet operational expenses. The department owns a farm, nursery, deer breeding farm and 02 joint labs equipped with necessary instruments meeting teaching and research needs. The discipline is short of senior faculty (Professor). Students emphasized on the outside touring facilities for better learning outcome. It was recommended to induct senior faculty, For rendering quality education, short and long term training program should be in place and faculty should be encouraged to excel competitive research grants both inland and foreign. Curriculum should include latest trends in the field of climate change, REDD and REDD+. Latest edition of text and reference books concerning forestry, range and watershed should be provided to students. Inview of the above minor shortfalls, AIC rated the degree programs in X3 category of HEC with 66% score. 1

3 INTRODUCTION Background Dr Tanvir Hussain, Chairman FRW, UCA&E, The Islamia University Bahawalpur briefed the Accreditation Committee about the Department history, faculty, students, courses curriculum, examination/evaluation system, classrooms, labs, major equipment, students strength, students completed education, etc. The University College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences was established in The purpose was to produce graduates who are capable to contribute in the development of agriculture of the Southern Punjab. Agriculture is considered as the backbone of economy but crop production is difficult under arid and semi-arid conditions due to acute shortage of rain and irrigation water. The Department of Forestry, Range and Wildlife was declared as separate department on The department has initiated B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture major in forestry during and M.Sc (Hons) Forestry programs during Objective: The main objective is Integrated resource management whereby the different land use types (forests, watershed areas, range lands, bio-diversity areas; etc.) and vegetation and other resource type (trees, shrubs, grasses, wild animals etc.) will be managed in an integrated way as part of the overall ecological system. Mission Statement: The mission statement of the department entails as Enhancement of sustainable economic, ecological, and social benefits of natural resources in Pakistan through research, teaching, and extension programs. Due to novice in its establishment, department has no pass out badge as yet, however, semester wise enrollment is as follow Sr. No Degree program Year Semester Students intake 01 B.Sc (Hons) th M.SC (hons) st Fall do st Spring do st Fall do st Spring 07 2

4 CRITERION WISE ANALYSIS SECTION-1 STRENGTH AND QUALITY OF FACULTY Teaching Status, Qualification, Experience and Workload There are five full time faculty members in the Department of Forestry, Range and Wildlife Management including one Associate Professor, three Assistant Professors and 01 lecturer. In addition, there are three part time Faculty members hired as Assistant Professor and Lecturers. The evaluation committee met with each faculty member of the Department to know about their qualification, professional background and research field record of course, students attendance, examination result, opportunities for training, facilities available, facilities required, strengths & weakness, existing problems in the degree programs of the Department, etc. The outcomes of the meetings with the faculty were evaluated/marked in the evaluation manual (toolkit). Regarding faculty qualification and teaching experience, four out of five faculty members are PhDs obtained from Pakistani Universities with average teaching experience of 5+ years whereas lecturer experience is about 01 year. Teaching work load shared by an Associate Professor is 06 and Assistant Professor and Lecturer as 08 courses per annum. Department has 40 publications out of which 05 are in impact factor journals. Student Assessment, Degree monitoring, Training, Salaries and Faculty development There is an adequate use of assessment instruments like quizzes, assignments, projects/seminars, sessional, mid and final examinations as well as use of appropriate teaching learning methods to the likes of multimedia, demonstrations, group discussions etc. Faculty members regularly maintain course review reports and Quality Enhancement Cell together with the Chairman monitor degree program. There is no formal training plan in place for newly inducted faculty though, some orientation, however, is being imparted. There is an adequately planned faculty development and career planning exists. Faculty members showed satisfaction over teaching environment, salaries and fringe benefits. Faculty stability index is good and ample recognition in the shape of awards is in place. Faculty members have adequate participation in seminars/conferences. There is shortage of writing any book/book chapter, nonetheless, conference proceeding are there. Since, newly established department, graduate supervision of MPhil students is in place. Faculty members showed moderate job satisfaction, nonetheless, opportunities for faculty academic progress are in place. SECTION-2: CUURICULUM DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT Curriculum Objective, Contents and Revision The Department of Forestry, Range & Wildlife Management has adopted program and courses of B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture major Forestry, Range & Wildlife Management from 3

5 HEC National Curriculum approved for the degree programme. The B.Sc. (Hons.) degree in Forestry comprises of 148 credit hours with four years duration after F.Sc. The curriculum is regularly revised through HEC curriculum revision committee and is approved through Departmental Board of Studies and Advanced Studies Research Board. All the courses are available in approved handbook of HEC Forestry National Curriculum and syllabus showing the courses semester wise adjustment with credit hours. Students Feedback regarding Degree Program The AIC members also met with a group of students pursuing their degree in B.Sc. (Hons.) major Forestry program. The Students showed their satisfaction regarding various components of degree programs including scheme of studies, course material, practical work, etc. The students especially mentioned the teaching methods including power point lecture presentations, case studies, etc. The students however, suggested that more course related books should be a part of main and departmental library and field visits should be a regular part of the courses to give them a chance to visit project sites and forest plantation activities etc. Students also showed their satisfaction regarding classroom facilities, curriculum & teaching standard, teachers behavior, library and computer laboratories, etc. Admission, Course Registration and Withdrawal Policy Admission and Withdrawals are governed by the University Uniform Semester & Implementation rules. Curriculum designed and selected from HEC approved guidelines for the subject of Forestry. Also revision of curriculum as per approved HEC guidelines (NCRC). Each faculty member has maintained course files and course review reports. Regular meeting of BOS at college level and teachers meeting at department level are held. SECTION-3: INFRASTRUCTURE AND LEARNING RESOURCES The department shared two labs with the UCA&E having capacity of 20 students. Lab equipment are utilized and lab safety measures are in place. Budget for maintenance and operation of labs and library is adequate. A total of 18 books in the central library and 22 books in staff offices are available. The institution has its own website. There is 05 acres farm area wherein a good nursery is in place. SECTION-4: STUDENT SUPPORT AND PROGRESSION The admission response to degree program is moderate. Since the program is newly started, average intake in 5 th semester is 26, there is no pass out batch as yet. Financial support in the form of scholarships, hostel, medical and transport facilities for students are adequate. 4

6 SECTION-5: RESEARCH AND CONSULTANCY ACTIVITIES A total of 40 publications (impact factor=5) have been published in the last 03 years. Academic cooperation and advisory services are available features in the Department. SECTION-6: GOVERNANCE AND LEADERSHIP OF THE INSTITUTION The rules and regulations and administrative control is adequate and operational/ development budget is ample enough allocated for the Department. SECTION-6: ADOPTION OF GOOD PRACTICES Some of the good practices adopted by the Department/UCA&E is the use of latest teaching tools, course designing and updation as per HEC curriculum revision etc. 5

7 PARTICIPATORY SWOT ANALYSIS STRENGTHS The teaching staff is well qualified and trained in their respective field of studies. The department has spacious classrooms equipped with multimedia. WEAKNESSES The department is short of senior faculty (Professor) and requires number of regular faculty. Lack of adequate practical exposure of students to various forest types and other field project sites which is needed for proper learning of the subjects related to natural resources management. The current touring exercises are not sufficient to meet the degree requirement. The text and reference books need to be updated with latest editions and topics on new trends in forestry like biodiversity and climate change, etc. be added in the current scheme of studies. There is no Departmental library. Lake of Research and Reference material and no access to HEC digital Lib. OPPORTUNITIES The Department of Forestry, Range and Wildlife Management of UCA&E, IUB is located on Sutledge river and has an adjoining biggest Cholistan dessert has great opportunity for forestry and range management interventions. The department can make significant headways in developing a strong forestry research and extension program in collaboration with line departments and NGOs. The Department has a huge research area under its control to establish quality nursery and an impressive plantation demonstration area. CHALLENGES The department should put more focus on securing funding for research projects on testing innovative forestry techniques like raising quality seedlings under nursery and field conditions and promotion of agro-forestry and range management technologies. Outreach exposure to the students that can be carried out in collaboration with Forest department and Punjab Forestry Research Institute for demonstration and learning of latest practical knowledge in the field of forestry especially of scrub and temperate forests. 6

8 ACTIONABLE RECOMMENDATIONS Induction of senior faculty is needed for improvement in quality education and research and for efficient administrative control. Addition of new and latest edition of recommended text books in departmental as well as main library. Revision of some course contents by including latest issues and trends in the field of climate change issues like carbon stock estimation and REDD and REDD+. Field visits be arranged regularly for the students for practical demonstration of latest and innovative nursery and field plantation techniques being employed by the Research and extension institutions. To improve the quality of education, faculty should be provided ample opportunities for short and long term training in developed countries. The faculty should be encouraged to get competitive research grants in order to inculcate Research culture in their academic career as well as concentrating on producing impact factor publications. Rating Recommendations for Accreditation In view of the above narrated findings, AIC unanimously recommends that the Degree program of B.Sc (Hons.) offered by the Department of Forestry, Range and Wildlife Management, UCA&E, Bahawalpur be graded as X category of National Agriculture Education Accreditation Council/Higher Education Commission i,e., the classification of degree program with minor shortfalls expected to meet the criteria as set by the Council for Accreditation with scope for up-gradation to category W after appropriate improvement in due course of time. 7

9 Annexure-1 TORs of AIC The team visited the Department of Forestry, Range and Wildlife Management, UCA&E, The Islamia University, Bahawalpur for external assessment and evaluation of B.Sc. (Hons.) degree program in Forestry from March 05-06, 2014 with the following TORs. 1. To validate the self-assessment Report of B.Sc. (Hons.) degree program prepared by the Department. 2. To carry out external evaluation of the degree program in a transparent, neutral, holistic and participatory manner for accreditation and rating of degree program based on the evaluation criteria of NAEAC. 3. To submit synthesized and concise analytical report about the degree program after meeting with Chairman of the Department, faculty members, students and visit to classrooms, laboratories and library, etc. 4. To submit clear, precise and justified actionable accreditation and rating accreditation and rating recommendations about the degree programs to chairman NAEAC. 8

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