Purpose

OBE is a performance- based education system that encompasses each part of an educational system around outcomes. The core philosophy of OBE rests in adhering to student-centric learning approach used to measure student’s performance based on pre-determined set of outcomes. It gives a clear picture of what is important for students to be able to do, then organising the curriculum, instructions and assessments to make sure that the learning ultimately happens (Spady 1994). By the end of the educational experience, each student should have achieved the goal (outcomes). One of the significant advantage of Outcome Based Education is in bringing out reforms in curriculum framework that has to be outcome based; constant up gradation of academic resources; raising quality of research and teaching; technology integration in the teaching-learning processes; bringing out clarity among students as to what is
expected from them after completion of the programme and for teachers in bringing focus on what to teach, how to teach and evaluate.

Fergusson College has adopted Learning Outcome based Curriculum Framework (LOCF) from 2019 and to strengthen Outcome Based Education implementation further steps has been taken by IQAC in the year 2020 and a policy has been framed.

OBE Process and Procedures

Fergusson College is committed to adopt and initiate the implementation of OBE in the institution in the phase wise manner. The core philosophy of outcome based education rests in adhering to a student centric learning approach used to measure students’ performance based on a predetermined set of outcomes. For this, implementation process of OBE module has been designed in a planned way by following set procedures.

Defining Outcomes and Development of OBE framework

Program Educational Objectives (PEOs), Programme Outcomes (POs), Programme Specific Outcomes (PSOs) and Course Outcomes (COs) are the building blocks for OBE framework/system. These has been defined with the help of all stakeholders.

Process followed for defining Programme Specific Outcomes (PSOs) with Programme Educational Objectives (PEOs)
Program educational objectives (PEOs):
PEOs are the broad statements which specify what the graduates of the program are expected to achieve within 4-5 years of completing the Programme. PEOs has been defined following the Mission of the College and inputs are taken from the stakeholders and published on college website. Four PEOs have been written targeting five different programme run by college, i.e. B.A., M.A., B.Sc., M.Sc and B.Voc.
Sample PEOs for M.Sc. programme:

• PEO1 Facilitate value-based holistic and comprehensive learning by integrating traditional and innovative learning practices to match the highest quality standards and train students to be effective leaders in their chosen fields and career.
• PEO2 Provide conducive environment to unleash their hidden talents, creative potential, nurture the spirit of critical thinking and encourage them towards higher education so as to cater the needs of the industry/society and contribute for the development of the nation.
• PEO3 Equip students with skills needed to adapt better to ever changing global scenario by encouraging innovative practices, research ompetence and entrepreneurial skills and gain access to career opportunities in multidisciplinary domains.
• PEO4 Develop a sense of social responsibility, ethics and equity to transform students into commitment-oriented professionals having strong attitude towards sustainable development for betterment of society.

Programme outcomes (POs):
POs are the statements that describe what graduates of any undergraduate or postgraduate Arts, Science and Vocational programme should demonstrate at the time of completion of graduation. Once PEOs has been defined, these objectives led to the development of POs. POs which were earlier referred to as Graduate Attributes is all about what is expected from a graduate in his years of graduation. As POs of all professional programmes in engineering and other areas are identified at national level by NBA and concerned accrediting agency, no agency has defined the POs of General Higher Education programme in India. Therefore, college with the help of stakeholders have defined nine POs specific for five different programme (i.e. B.A., M.A., B.Sc., M.Sc. and B.Voc.) offered by Fergusson College keeping in mind PEO statements and referring sample POs given in
‘NAAC Institutional Accreditation Manual for Self Study Report for Autonomous Colleges’ and POs defined by NBAs as per Washington Accord’s Programme Learning Outcome. For defining POs, inputs were taken from IQAC members, Heads of the department, Programme coordinators, senior
faculty members, alumni and external academic experts collectively. Theses inputs were analyzed by the IQAC and OBE-Team. After proper revisions, POs were finalized and communicated to Academic council members and published on the college website.
Sample Program Outcomes (POs) for M.Sc Programme

• PO1 Disciplinary Knowledge:
  Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the discipline that form a part of an postgraduate programme. Execute strong theoretical and practical understanding generated from the specific programme in the area of work.
• PO2 Critical Thinking and Problem solving: Exhibit the skill of critical thinking and understand scientific texts and place scientific statements and themes in contexts and also evaluate them in terms of generic conventions. Identify the problem by observing the situation closely, take actions and apply lateral thinking and analytical skills to design the solutions.
• PO3 Social competence : Exhibit thoughts and ideas effectively in writing and orally; communicate with others using appropriate media, build effective interactive and presenting skills to meet global competencies. Elicit views of others, present complex information in a clear and concise and help reach conclusion in group settings.
• PO4 Research-related skills and Scientific temper: Infer scientific literature, build sense of enquiry and able to formulate, test, analyse, interpret and establish hypothesis and research questions; and to identify and consult relevant sources to find answers. Plan and write a research paper/project while emphasizing on academics and research ethics, scientific conduct and creating awareness about intellectual property rights and issues of plagiarism.
• PO5 Trans-disciplinary knowledge: Create new conceptual, theoretical and methodological understanding that integrates and transcends beyond discipline-specific approaches to address a common problem.
• PO6 Personal and professional competence: Perform independently and also collaboratively as a part of team to meet defined objectives and carry out work across interdisciplinary fields. Execute interpersonal relationships, self-motivation and adaptability skills and commit to professional ethics.
• PO7 Effective Citizenship and Ethics : Demonstrate empathetic social concern and equity centred national development, and ability to act with an informed awareness of moral and ethical issues and commit to professional ethics and responsibility.
• PO8 Environment and Sustainability: Understand the impact of the scientific solutions in societal and environmental contexts and demonstrate the knowledge of and need for sustainable development.
• PO9 Self-directed and Life-long learning: Acquire the ability to engage in independent and life-long learning in the broadest context of socio-technological changes.