National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) is being thronged by application of various universities and institutes across the country seeking accreditation from the agency.
Institutions of higher learning like Delhi University, Jamia Millia Islamia, School of Planning and Architecture, Anna University, Indian Institute of Science and National Law School, Jadavpur University and Assam University among 2,978 others have sent their letter of intention (LoI) to the accreditation agency between January 19, 2013 to December 19, 2013. This is the highest number of LoIs received by NAAC. Region wise the highest number of applications are from east and northeast, while in as a state Bihar has the largest number of participations. Following Bihar (280) in terms of states with largest applications are Madhya Pradesh (278), Tamil Nadu (238), Karnataka (217) and Rajasthan (193). Nine universities and nine colleges have applied from Delhi.
The move comes in the backdrop of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) where it has become mandatory for government run higher education institutions to get accreditation to receive funding. With increased applications, according to A N Rai, Director, NAAC, “the first priority is to strengthen the headquarter in Bangalore and then decentralise the process of college level accreditation process. The regional centres will be responsible for the assessment process – right from receiving the LoI to Institution Eligibility Qualification Assessment, followed by self study report to visit by the expert. Only the final approval of the grading will be done in Bangalore by the executive committee.”
