MISSION & INTERNAL QUALITY ASSURANCE DOCUMENT

Mission

We at GĀYO FITNESS ACADEMY believe that the health and fitness of our communities and Nation i.e. Bharat can be meaningfully enhanced by our students’ professional success as –

fitness (health & lifestyle) professionals,

sports professionals, and

nutrition specialists

GĀYO endeavours to inspire our students to positively influence the quality of life of each individual with whom they interact and guide.

GĀYO is unconditionally committed to providing the highest quality education and training programs available in order to –

offer world class career opportunities in Fitness, Sports and Nutrition in the context of not only today’s but tomorrow’s world

enable our students to be in a commanding position as and when Fitness is formally recognized as an industry by the Government of India

contribute to the health of all communities and countries where our students work

Strategy

GĀYO endeavours to be seen and respected as a national leader and one of the world’s top 10 in Fitness Education and Training through –

delivery of quality fitness education and personal training certification to those desirous of pursuing these vocations

development of knowledge and skills sets courses and their delivery through development of world class Faculty as well as teaching and learning resources

creation of opportunities for development of skills necessary to construct and pursue vocational careers in Fitness, Sports and Nutrition

provision of free post-enrolment guidance, mentoring and support student and alumni services and support

provision of consulting and management services to commercial, corporate and other fitness centres

Quality Assurance

For the purpose of implementation of the Strategy, GĀYO is committed to observe, in spirit and in letter, the GUIDELINES FOR THE CREATION OF THE INTERNAL QUALITY ASSURANCE COMMITTEE (IQAC) as laid down in the National Action Plan of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), Bangalore, for performance evaluation, assessment and accreditation and quality upgradation of institutions of higher education, for reasons stated below:

The NAAC is an autonomous body under the University Grants Commission (UGC), Government of India, established for the purpose of monitoring, assessing and assuring the quality of higher and vocational education and knowledge delivery standards of education institutions including universities, affiliated colleges in the country.

GĀYO is a private academy affiliated to and working in partnership with the BPCA’s College of Physical Education (BPCACPE), located in Mumbai, which is permanently affiliated to the University of Mumbai and accredited in Grade “A” by NAAC.

As part of the accreditation process, the education delivery provided by GĀYO is integral to NAAC’s audit which led to BPCACPE’s accreditation in Grade “A”. GĀYO is, therefore, committed to observe and implement all quality assurance standards by NAAC.

GĀYO, therefore, has established an Internal Quality Assurance Committee (IQAC). Since quality improvement is a continuous process, the IQAC is part of GĀYO’s institutional system and works towards effecting the goals of quality enhancement and sustenance.

The primary objective of the IQAC is to:

Develop a system for well-thought out, consistent and result-oriented improvement in the performance of GĀYO

Make a significant and meaningful contribution in the post-accreditation phase of BPCACPE and GĀYO through the mechanism of regular monitoring, feedback and ensuring that academic excellence is pursued at all levels.

The work of the IQAC is the first step towards the internalization and institutionalization of quality enhancement across GĀYO. Its success depends upon the sense of belongingness and participation it can inculcate in all the constituents of the institution. It will not be yet another hierarchical structure or recordkeeping exercise in the institution; it will be a facilitative and participative voluntary “conscience keeper” of the institution. The IQAC will be vehicle for ushering in quality by working out intervention strategies to remove deficiencies and enhance quality.

Mechanisms & Procedures

IQAC shall evolve mechanisms and procedures for:

  • Ensuring timely, efficient and progressive performance of academic, administrative and financial tasks
  • The relevance and quality of academic and research programmes
  • Equitable access to and affordability of academic programmes for various sections of society
  • Optimization and integration of modern methods of teaching and learning
  • The credibility of evaluation procedures
  • Ensuring the adequacy, maintenance and functioning of the support structure and services
  • Research sharing and networking with other institutions in India and abroad.

Functions

Some of the functions expected of the IQAC are:

  • Development and application of quality benchmarks/parameters for the various academic and administrative activities of the institution
  • Dissemination of information on the various quality parameters of higher education
  • Organization of workshops, seminars on quality related themes and promotion of quality circles
  • Documentation of the various programmes / activities leading to quality improvement
  • Acting as a nodal agency of the institution for quality-related activities

Benefits

IQAC will facilitate / contribute:

  • To a heightened level of clarity and focus in institutional functioning towards quality enhancement and facilitate internalization of the quality culture
  • To the enhancement and integration among the various activities of the institution and institutionalize many good practices
  • To provide a sound basis for decision making to improve institutional functioning
  • To act as a change agent in the institution
  • To better internal communication.

Composition of the IQAC – NAAC guidelines

The IQAC will be constituted under the chairmanship of head of the institution with heads of important academic and administrative units and a few teachers and a few distinguished educationists/ representatives of local committee.

The composition of the IQAC may be as follows:

Chairperson: Head of the Institution

A few senior administrative officers

Three to eight teachers

One or two members from the Management

One/two nominees from local society

One of the teachers as the coordinator of the IQAC.

The composition of the IQAC will depend on the size and complexity of the institution.

While selecting these members several precautions need to be taken. A few of them are listed below:

  • It is advisable to choose from various backgrounds who have earned respect for integrity and excellence in their teaching and research. Moreover, they should be aware of the ground realities of the institutional environment. They should be known for their commitment to improving the quality of teaching and learning.
  • It would be appropriate to choose as (senior administrators) in charge of institutional services such as library, computer center, estate, student welfare, administration, academic tasks, examination, planning and development.
  • The management representatives should be persons who are aware of the institution’s objectives, limitations and strengths and are committed to improvement. The local society representatives should be of high standing and should have made significant contributions to society, and, in particular, to education.

The Role of Coordinator: The role of the coordinator of the IQAC is crucial in ensuring the effective functioning of all the members. The coordinator of the IQAC may be a senior person with expertise in quality aspects. She/he may be a full-time functionary or, to start with, she/he may be a senior academic /administrator entrusted with the IQAC as an additional responsibility. Secretarial assistance may be facilitated by the administration.

Operational Features of the IQAC: Quality assurance is a by-product of ongoing efforts to define the objectives of an institution, to have a work plan to achieve them and to specify the checks and balances to evaluate the degree to which each of the tasks is fulfilled. Hence devotion and commitment to improvement rather than mere institutional control is the basis for devising procedures and instruments for assuring quality. The right balance between the health and growth of an institution needs to be struck. The IQAC has to ensure that whatever is done in the institution for “education” is done efficiently and effectively with high standards. In order to do this, the IQAC will have to first establish procedures and modalities to collect data and information on various aspects of institutional functioning.

Therefore, in keeping with the NAAC guidelines, and with a view to pursue and accomplish the Mission through appropriate Strategies, GĀYO has the following mechanism in place:

GĀYO FITNESS ACADEMY INTERNAL QUALITY ASSURANCE COMMITTEE – GIQAC

The GIQAC currently comprises:

Position Name & Other Details
Chairman Member: Dr R. R. Dhakné – Vice Principal – BPCACPE – University of Mumbai. Located in Mumbai.
Secretary – Member Mr. Ratnadeep Tagdé – National Academics Manager, Senior Faculty. Located in Mumbai.
Member Prof. Ms. Vinita Menon – Head of Faculty, Nutrition Sciences. Located in Mumbai.
Member Dr. Ajina Khan – Head of Faculty, Exercise Kinesiology &
Biomechanics. Located in Thiruvanathapuram.
Member Prof Ms Sonika Agarwal – Head of Faculty, Anatomy & Physiology
Member – BPCACPE Dr Kishore J. Maru. Professor, BPCA’s College of Physical Education
Member – External Ms. Shweta Varpé, senior Yogacharya. Located in Mumbai.
Member – External Prof. Ian Jeffreys (U.K.)

GĀYO FITNESS ACADEMY ACADEMIC COUNCIL – GFAAC

The GFAAC currently comprises:

Position Name & Other Details
Chairman Dilip Heblé – CEO & Founder, Gāyo Fitness Academy
Secretary – Member Dr Meenakshi – Head, Physiotherapy & Sports Injuries Management
Member Ms Saima Khan – HOF, Pilates
Member Ms Sonika Agarwal – HOF, Anatomy & Physiology
Member Basheer V. M. – HOF, Bodybuilding
Member Angshuman Dutta – National Faculty Tutor & Assessor
Member Ms Savita Shirsat – Head, Finance
Invitees HOFs, External Members will be invited in context of specific
subjects to be considered

GĀYO FITNESS ACADEMY - ACADEMIC APPEALS COMMITTEE - GFAACom

GFAACom is convened on a “case to case” basis to admit and consider –

Appeals of academic nature, on principles of Natural Justice, with specific reference to Indian Law as applicable in the jurisdiction of the Judicature of the High Court of Mumbai an in accordance with the Rules & Regulations of the Bombay Physical Culture Association’s College of Physical Education – University of Mumbai, Assam down town University, international accreditation organizations, international Education & Training partners, and Gāyo Fitness Academy’s Terms & Conditions relating to student enrolments.

Complaints in the case of incidents that may be within the ambit of The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, Indian Penal Code, and other Laws.

Any other complaints from / against students, faculty and training centres

Convenor / s

  • Dinesh Mhatre – Head – Administration
  • Any other officer as may be nominated.

Members

  • Mrs N. O. Joshi – Associate Professor, BPCA’s College of Physical Education
  • Mrs Vinita Menon – Head of Faculty, Nutrition Sciences

External Member

  • R. V. Nangare – Eminent Lawyer with over 25 years of legal practice

Other Invitees

Committee is authorised to invite the concerned Master Trainer / Tutor, Assessor and aggrieved student and independent witnesses after ascertaining that the student’s appeal has merit for further consideration.