THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (Naac), an autonomous body under the University Grants Commission (UGC) of India, has accorded 'A' grade status to Kerala University.
The only other university with 'A' grade status in the state is Sanskrit university. The Naac accreditation of Kerala University had elapsed in 2008. It was a recent decision by the UGC that no grant would be given to universities that fail to acquire Naac accreditation before April 2015 that prompted the Kerala University to speed up the accreditation renewal process which had been lagging behind schedule.
According to the terms and conditions fixed by UGC, only those universities that acquire 'A' grade status would be eligible to pitch for centre of excellence status. "A grade means more funds from UGC and more avenues for academic expansion.
The 'A' grade which the university has been granted now is the result of coordinated efforts on the part of academic and staff members of the university," said Kerala University registrar K Mohammed Basheer.
While many colleges affiliated to Kerala University were assessed with 'A' Grade by Naac, it's the first time that the university has itself got the grade. According to R Jayaprakash, former principal of Sreenarayana College, Kollam, who worked as the general convener of the steering committee which prepared the self-study report of the university submitted to Naac, the 'A' grade would help the university when it scouts for funds from agencies other than UGC.
It would also mean more share of fund from the Union government's Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (Rusa) programme for improving quality of higher education in the country.
The university was accredited with 'B++' grade in 2003. However, it not only failed to go in for reaccreditation due in 2008, but could not even send the mandatory annual report to the council during the accredited years. The annual report is expected to carry separate evaluation reports on the functioning of university departments, affiliated institutions, teaching learning process, campus infrastructure, teacher strength, research activities, etc.
According to senior officials of the university, the process for Naac reaccreditation started almost a year ago, but the process gained momentum after P K Radhakrishnan was appointed the vice-chancellor last year.
After former vice-chancellor A Jayakrishnan completed his term in December 2012, there was no VC for the university until February 2014. UGC's 12th plan allocation for the University of Kerala stands at Rs 15.76 crore, while the 11th plan funding was Rs 17.75 crore. Though Naac used to give A +, B+ and B++ grades to universities, of late it has limited the grades to A, B and C.
The only other university with 'A' grade status in the state is Sanskrit university. The Naac accreditation of Kerala University had elapsed in 2008. It was a recent decision by the UGC that no grant would be given to universities that fail to acquire Naac accreditation before April 2015 that prompted the Kerala University to speed up the accreditation renewal process which had been lagging behind schedule.
According to the terms and conditions fixed by UGC, only those universities that acquire 'A' grade status would be eligible to pitch for centre of excellence status. "A grade means more funds from UGC and more avenues for academic expansion.
The 'A' grade which the university has been granted now is the result of coordinated efforts on the part of academic and staff members of the university," said Kerala University registrar K Mohammed Basheer.
While many colleges affiliated to Kerala University were assessed with 'A' Grade by Naac, it's the first time that the university has itself got the grade. According to R Jayaprakash, former principal of Sreenarayana College, Kollam, who worked as the general convener of the steering committee which prepared the self-study report of the university submitted to Naac, the 'A' grade would help the university when it scouts for funds from agencies other than UGC.
It would also mean more share of fund from the Union government's Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (Rusa) programme for improving quality of higher education in the country.
The university was accredited with 'B++' grade in 2003. However, it not only failed to go in for reaccreditation due in 2008, but could not even send the mandatory annual report to the council during the accredited years. The annual report is expected to carry separate evaluation reports on the functioning of university departments, affiliated institutions, teaching learning process, campus infrastructure, teacher strength, research activities, etc.
According to senior officials of the university, the process for Naac reaccreditation started almost a year ago, but the process gained momentum after P K Radhakrishnan was appointed the vice-chancellor last year.
After former vice-chancellor A Jayakrishnan completed his term in December 2012, there was no VC for the university until February 2014. UGC's 12th plan allocation for the University of Kerala stands at Rs 15.76 crore, while the 11th plan funding was Rs 17.75 crore. Though Naac used to give A +, B+ and B++ grades to universities, of late it has limited the grades to A, B and C.
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