Bharathidasan University yet to initiate re-accreditation process

Though the Certificate of Accreditation given by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council) to Bharathidasan University (BDU), Tiruchi, lapsed this month, the establishment had taken initiative to obtain re-accreditation only last month. The process must have been initiated at least six months prior to the culmination of the accreditation period, experts conversant with the procedure said.

It was only at the latest meeting of IQAC conducted last month that a decision was taken to start the preparation for the third cycle of NAAC accreditation.

According to the accreditation certificate issued by NAAC dated September 15, BDU was accredited with CGPA of 3.16 on four-point scale at A Grade valid up to September 14, 2017. Grade A signified Very Good description granted on the criteria of curricular aspects; teaching-learning and evaluation; research consultancy and extension; infrastructure and learning resources; student support and progression; governance and leadership; and innovation practices.

However, there are concerns that research activities and innovation practices had been relegated to background over the last few years. The university's Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), which has the responsibility of preparing Annual Quality Assurance Report for submission to NAAC; and preparing Self-Study Report for re-accreditation of the University among other quality-related activities, has understandably submitted the report only until 2015-16 to NAAC. And the latest Academic and Administrative Audit was conducted during 2015.

There is a feeling gaining ground in academic circles that the university that emphasises on timely NAAC accreditation for affiliated colleges ought to lead by example. According to university sources, attempts to initiate the re-accreditation process during March this year had to be abandoned since the revised guidelines of NAAC was awaited. The NAAC had launched its revised Assessment and Accreditation (A & A) Framework during July 2017.

The online submission of self-study report for universities that began on August 10, could be made until October 10. The manual for universities was uploaded on NAAC website on July 20. The next window for higher educational institutions seeking Assessment and Accreditation is from November 1 to December 31, according to the NAAC website.

The time now is apparently too short for the university to fulfil the requirements for re-accreditation by then. The wait will have to be extended until the start of the next academic year for submitting the self study report. The question now is whether BDU can be identified with the A grade accreditation until then.

The university has reportedly decided to conduct two faculty meetings, one in the main campus and another on Khajamalai campus, for a briefing on the revised guidelines of NAAC accreditation and preparation towards the next accreditation.

Source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/accredition-process/article19737517.ece