New Accreditation System Set to Elevate Indian Higher Education Institutions

April 2, 2024, 10:19 a.m.

An official revealed that Indian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are undergoing a transformative shift in accreditation processes, aiming to enhance their quality and global positioning. The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) has decided to replace the grading system with a binary categorisation of 'accredited' or 'not accredited'. A committee, headed by former ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan, proposed transformative reforms to strengthen accreditation, assessment, and ranking processes for HEIs.

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Under the current system, institutions undergo assessment, and their performance is graded based on a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) computed on a maximum score of 4.00, translating into a final grade on a seven-point scale. The introduction of a 'One Nation One Data Platform' aims to ensure data integrity and transparency across approval, accreditation, and ranking processes. Stakeholder validation is also proposed to enhance the reliability of collected data. These reforms are aligned with the objectives outlined in the National Education Policy 2020, which targets a Gross Enrolment Ratio of 50 percent by 2035. The revamped accreditation process, emphasising Binary and Maturity-Based Graded Accreditation, will prioritise processes, outcomes, and impact across various attributes of HEIs, moving away from an input-centric approach.

Moreover, the system will tailor evaluations based on the diversity of institutions, categorising them according to their orientation, vision, and heritage, with a particular focus on rural and remote locations. The NAAC, operating under the UGC, conducts accreditation exercises with the involvement of academic experts nationwide. The new accreditation paradigm seeks to elevate the quality and competitiveness of Indian HEIs on the global stage, aligning with the objectives outlined in the National Education Policy 2020.