NAAC stands for the National Assessment and Accreditation Council.
It is an autonomous body established by the University Grants Commission (UGC) of India in 1994. Its primary purpose is to assess and accredit Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the country, such as colleges, universities, and other recognised institutions.
Think of it as a ‘quality stamp’ that certifies the standard of education and institutional functioning.
Vision and Mission
- Vision: To make quality assurance an integral part of the functioning of Higher Education Institutions.
- Mission: To arrange for periodic assessment and accreditation of institutions and, in the process, stimulate them to continuously improve their quality of education.
The Assessment and Accreditation (A&A) Process
The process is comprehensive and multi-layered. Here’s a simplified breakdown:
- Application (IIQA): The institution first submits an Institutional Information for Quality Assessment (IIQA) online. NAAC reviews this to check if the institution is eligible for accreditation.
- Self-Study Report (SSR): Once eligible, the institution prepares a detailed Self-Study Report (SSR) based on the 7 criteria defined by NAAC. This report contains data and evidence about every aspect of the institution.
- Data Validation and Verification (DVV): NAAC’s team verifies the data submitted in the SSR. This is a crucial, objective, and online process to ensure the claims made by the institution are accurate.
- Student Satisfaction Survey (SSS): A survey is conducted among a sample of students to get their feedback on the teaching-learning experience. This has significant weight in the final score.
- Peer Team Visit: A team of expert academicians and administrators (the “Peer Team”) visits the institution for 2-3 days. They physically verify the infrastructure, interact with faculty, staff, students, and management, and validate the information provided in the SSR.
- Grading: Based on the SSR, DVV, SSS, and the Peer Team’s report, NAAC awards a final score (CGPA) and a corresponding letter grade to the institution.
NAAC evaluates institutions on seven specific criteria. These cover every aspect of an institution’s functioning:
- Curricular Aspects: The design, development, and relevance of the courses offered.
- Teaching-Learning and Evaluation: The quality of teaching, learning processes, and the fairness of the evaluation system.
- Research, Innovations and Extension: The institution’s research output, promotion of innovation, and its outreach activities in the community.
- Infrastructure and Learning Resources: The adequacy of physical facilities like classrooms, labs, library, sports facilities, and IT infrastructure.
- Student Support and Progression: The support services provided to students (mentoring, counseling, financial aid) and their success rates (placements, higher studies).
- Governance, Leadership and Management: The effectiveness of leadership, internal quality assurance systems, and financial management.
- Institutional Values and Best Practices: The institution’s commitment to core values (like ethics, gender equality, environment) and its unique, successful practices.