PSOs and COs at Alphonsa College, Pala

Under the guidance of the Institutional Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), Alphonsa College initiated comprehensive faculty training sessions focused on crafting measurable Program Outcomes (POs), Program-Specific Outcomes (PSOs), and Course Outcomes (COs). Through collaboration with experts from esteemed institutions and participation in workshops and seminars led by renowned educators, faculty members underwent intensive training to align outcomes with the institution’s educational objectives and principles of Outcome-Based Education (OBE) and Bloom’s Taxonomy.

The College Council, recognizing the importance of OBE in delivering student-centered education, spearheaded the formulation of outcomes aimed at equipping learners with essential knowledge, skills, and competencies for success in their chosen fields. Seminars and discussions organized by the IQAC delved into OBE and Bloom’s Taxonomy, empowering faculty members to design outcomes tailored to their respective programs and courses.

A committee of experts, established by the College Council, developed POs aligned with the institution’s Vision and Mission. Departments further refined PSOs and COs through discussions with external subject experts, ensuring alignment with Bloom’s Taxonomy and the curriculum of MG University. These outcomes undergo rigorous review and approval by the IQAC to ensure coherence with the curriculum and educational objectives.

At Alphonsa College, transparency and clarity in communicating learning outcomes to our students are paramount. The Program Outcomes (POs) and Course Outcomes (COs) of our institution are prominently displayed on:

• The college website
• Department Notice Boards
• Within Classrooms
• OBE Manual
• PO display boards in every block of the college.
• PSO and CO display in each department.

This ensures easy access and understanding. During induction programs and introductory classes, students are provided with comprehensive explanations of the expected outcomes of each course and the program as a whole. This empowers them to take ownership of their learning journey and become familiar with the Outcome-Based Education (OBE) approach. Furthermore, examinations are conducted based on OBE principles, further familiarizing students with this educational paradigm.

Mapping of COs against PSOs is conducted using the PSO Articulation Matrix, and COs and POs are mapped using the PO Articulation Matrix, with correlation levels defined as 3 (Substantial), 2 (Moderate), 1 (Low), and No correlation. PO Articulation Matrix and PSO Articulation Matrix clearly illustrates the relationship between each Program Outcome/ Programme Specific Outcome and corresponding course outcomes.

Alphonsa College employs a rigorous methodology for assessing the attainment of learning outcomes. The implementation of Outcome-based education practices, which encompass defining Program Outcomes (POs), calculating attainment levels, and aligning them with Program-Specific Outcomes (PSOs) and Course Outcomes (COs), serves as a robust framework ensuring that students acquire the targeted knowledge and skills in their selected program of study. Through meticulous evaluation of course attainment and soliciting feedback from students, the college not only assesses the effectiveness of its educational delivery but also fosters a culture of continuous improvement. By aligning educational objectives with measurable outcomes, students are provided with clear benchmarks for their academic journey, enhancing their understanding of what is expected and facilitating their progression towards achieving their educational goals.

Moreover, this systematic approach to education enables the college to maintain a dynamic and responsive learning environment. Regular assessment of attainment levels allows for the identification of areas where students may require additional support or where curriculum adjustments may be necessary to better meet their needs. Additionally, gathering feedback from students provides valuable insights into their learning experiences and preferences, enabling the institution to adapt and refine its educational offerings accordingly. Ultimately, the integration of Outcome-based education practices empowers both students and educators to actively participate in the educational process, fostering a collaborative and enriching learning environment that nurtures academic excellence.

Within each course, there exists a spectrum of course outcomes, representing the targeted knowledge and skills that students are expected to attain. These course outcomes serve as the focal points for assessment and are evaluated through two distinct approaches: direct attainment and indirect attainment.

• Direct attainment- where learner performance is measured through Continuous Internal Evaluation strategies like tests, assignments, viva, and MCQs and end Semester Examination.

Computation of Direct PO attainment: 20% of CIE + 80% of the end Semester examination (EE)

• Indirect Attainment– Determined from the course exit surveys, which permit receiving feedback from students on individual COs.

Computation of Overall CO attainment: 90% of Direct CO Attainment+ 10% of indirect CO attainment.

• Course outcome attainment is evaluated on a 3-point scale, where scores above 60% indicate high attainment (3), scores between 40% and 60% indicate medium attainment (2), and scores below 40% indicate low attainment (1).
• CO attainment Target levels
  • Level 3: >=60% of the students scoring above 60% marks.
  • Level 2: 40-60% of students scoring above 60% marks.
  • Level 1: < 40% percentage of students scoring above 60% marks.
• Computation of CO direct attainment of a course
  • Attainment of CO of a course = [Wt of CIE (0.2) X Attainment of CO] + [Wt of EE (0.8) X attainment of CO]
• Computation of CO indirect attainment of the course
  • [(Level 1 X Of students attempted) +(Level 2 X No. Of students attempted) + (Level 3 X No. Of students attempted)] / Total Number of Students

The Institutional Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) created and developed an Excel-based tool for measuring attainment.

At Alphonsa College, we believe in continuous improvement driven by data-driven insights. Following the assessment of CO, PSO, and PO attainment levels, detailed analysis reports are prepared at the departmental level. These reports undergo rigorous scrutiny by the college-level OBE committee, which recommends strategic interventions for improvement. Remedial sessions, participative learning methods, and engagement with subject matter experts are among the strategies employed to enhance learning outcomes and ensure continuous growth and development.

Estimation of Programme Outcomes (POs), Programme Specific Outcomes (PSOs) and Course Outcomes (COs)

To benchmark the accomplishments of the principles of the institution, evaluation of the programme outcome attainment is vital. It is the responsibility if IQAC to ensure whether the Programme Outcomes (POs), Programme Specific Outcomes (PSOs) and Course Outcomes (COs) of all departments are achieved. IQAC co-ordinates and monitors the achievement of each of the POs, PSOs and COs through a mapping matrix method. The college has to only analyze the attainment since the Programme Outcomes and Course Outcomes are designed by Mahatma Gandhi University. The teacher’s forum discusses the problems and ambiguous matters in the courses. The attainment of POs, PSOs and COs of the courses are evaluated through direct and indirect estimation methods.

Direct Estimation Method

Here, the internal examinations and assignments are used as the parameters to assess course outcome. The course outcomes are kept as the core based on which the questions for the internal examinations and topics for assignments are framed, and the attainment is assessed from the answer scripts. The attainment of every CO is calculated by taking the average of percentage attainment of particular question. The overall Course Outcome is calculated using the average of percentage attainment of internal assessment and assignment. Working out all CO attainment facilitates the assessment of PO attainment.

Indirect Estimation Method

Feedback collected from passing out students is the parameter used in the indirect estimation method. Since the students are passing out from the college, the feedbacks collected are usually genuine and can be referred for analyzing the CO attainment. The CO attainment further adds to the PO attainment.