NAAC: Ensuring Quality in India's Higher Education

India has one of the largest and diverse education systems in the world. Privatization, widespread expansion, increased autonomy and introduction of Programmes in new and emerging areas have improved access to higher education. At the same time, it has also led to widespread concern on the quality and relevance of the higher education. To address these concerns, the National Policy on Education (NPE, 1986) and the Programme of Action (PoA, 1992) spelt out strategic plans for the policies, advocated the establishment of an independent National accreditation agency. Consequently, the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) was established in 1994 as an autonomous institution of the University Grants Commission (UGC) with its Head Quarter in Bengaluru. The mandate of NAAC as reflected in its vision statement is in making quality assurance an integral part of the functioning of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).

Teaching-learning and Evaluation

2.1 Student Enrollment and Profile
2.1.1(QnM) Enrolment percentage
2.1.2(QnM) Percentage of seats filled against reserved categories (SC, ST, OBC etc.) as per applicable reservation policy for the first year admission during the last five years
2.2 Student Teacher Ratio
2.2.1(QnM) Student – Full time Teacher Ratio (Data for the latest completed academic year)
2.3 Teaching- Learning Process
2.3.1(QlM) Student centric methods, such as experiential learning, participative learning and problem solving methodologies are used for enhancing learning experiences and teachers use ICT- enabled tools including online resources for effective teaching and learning process
2.4 Teacher Profile and Quality
2.4.1(QnM) Percentage of full-time teachers against sanctioned posts during the last five years
2.4.2(QnM) Percentage of full time teachers with NET/SET/SLET/ Ph. D./D.Sc. / D.Litt./L.L.D. during the last five years (consider only highest degree for count)
2.5 Evaluation Process and Reforms
2.5.1(QlM)  Mechanism of internal/ external assessment is transparent and the grievance redressal system is time- bound and efficient
2.6 Student Performance and Learning Outcomes
2.6.1(QlM) Programme Outcomes (POs) and Course Outcomes (COs) for all Programmes offered by the institution are stated and displayed on website
2.6.2(QlM) Attainment of POs and COs are evaluated
2.6.3(QnM) Pass percentage of Students during last five years  (excluding backlog students)
2.7 Student Satisfaction Survey
2.7.1(QnM) Online student satisfaction survey regarding teaching learning process

Research, Innovations and Extension

3.1 Resource Mobilization for Research
3.1.1(QnM) Grants received from Government and non-governmental agencies for research projects / endowments in the institution during the last five years (INR in Lakhs)
3.2 Innovation Ecosystem
3.2.1(QlM) Institution has created an ecosystem for innovations, Indian Knowledge System (IKS),including awareness about IPR, establishment of IPR cell, Incubation centre and other initiatives for the creation and transfer of knowledge/technology and the outcomes of the same are evident
3.2.2(QnM) Number of workshops/seminars/conferences including on Research Methodology, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and entrepreneurship conducted during the last five years
3.3 Research Publications and Awards
3.3.1(QnM) Number of research papers published per teacher in the Journals notified on UGC care list during the last five years
3.3.2(QnM) Number of books and chapters in edited volumes/books published and papers published in national/ international conference proceedings per teacher during last five years
3.4 Extension Activities
3.4.1(QlM) Outcomes of Extension activities in the neighborhood community in terms of impact and sensitizing the students to social issues for their holistic development during the last five years.
3.4.2(QlM) Awards and recognitions received for extension activities from government / government recognised bodies
3.4.3(QnM) Number of extension and outreach programs conducted by the institution through organized forums including NSS/NCC with involvement of community during the last five years.
3.5 Collaboration
3.5.1(QnM) Number of functional MoUs/linkages with institutions/ industries in India and abroad for internship, on-the-job training, project work, student / faculty exchange and collaborative research during the last five years.

Student Support and Progression

5.1 Student Support
5.1.1(QnM) Percentage of students benefited by scholarships and freeships provided by the institution, government and non-government bodies, industries, individuals, philanthropists during the last five years
5.1.2(QnM) Following capacity development and skills enhancement activities are organised for improving students
  1. Capability Soft skills
  2. Language and communication skills
  3. Life skills (Yoga, physical fitness, health and hygiene)
  4. ICT/computing skills
5.1.3(QnM) Percentage of students benefitted by guidance for competitive examinations and career counseling offered by the Institution during the last five years
5.1.4(QnM) The institution adopts the following for redressal of student grievances including sexual harassment and ragging cases
  1. Implementation of guidelines of statutory/regulatory bodies
  2. Organisation wide awareness and undertakings on policies with zero tolerance
  3. Mechanisms for submission of online/offline students’ grievances
  4. Timely redressal of the grievances through appropriate committees
5.2 Student Progression
5.2.1(QnM) Percentage of placement of outgoing students and students progressing to higher education during the last five years
5.2.2(QnM) Percentage of students qualifying in state/national/ international level examinations during the last five years
5.3 Student Participation and Activities
5.3.1(QnM) Number of awards/medals for outstanding performance in sports/ cultural activities at University / state/ national / international level (award for a team event should be counted as one) during the last five years
5.3.2(QnM) Average number of sports and cultural programs in which students of the Institution participated during last five years (organised by the institution/other institutions)
5.4 Alumni Engagement
5.4.1(QlM) There is a registered Alumni Association that contributes significantly to the development of the institution through financial and/or other support services

Governance, Leadership and Management

6.1 Institutional Vision and Leadership
6.1.1(QlM) The institutional governance and leadership are in accordance with the vision and mission of the Institution and it is visible in various institutional practices such as NEP implementation, sustained institutional growth, decentralization, participation in the institutional governance and in their short term and long term Institutional Perspective Plan.
6.2 Strategy Development and Deployment
6.2.1(QlM) The institutional perspective plan is effectively deployed and functioning of the institutional bodies is effective and efficient as visible from policies, administrative setup, appointment, service rules, and procedures, etc
6.2.2(QnM) Institution implements e-governance in its operations
  1. Administration
  2. Finance and Accounts
  3. Student Admission and Support
  4. Examination
6.3 Faculty Empowerment Strategies
6.3.1(QlM) The institution has performance appraisal system, effective welfare measures for teaching and non-teaching staff and avenues for career development/progression
6.3.2(QnM) Percentage of teachers provided with financial support to attend conferences/workshops and towards membership fee of professional bodies during the last five years
6.3.3(QnM) Percentage of teaching and non-teaching staff participating in Faculty development Programmes (FDP), Management Development Programmes (MDPs) professional development /administrative training programs during the last five years
6.4 Financial Management and Resource Mobilization
6.4.1(QlM) Institution has strategies for mobilization and optimal utilization of resources and funds from various sources (government/ nongovernment organizations) and it conducts financial audits regularly (internal and external)
6.5 Internal Quality Assurance System
6.5.1(QlM) Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) has contributed significantly for institutionalizing the quality assurance strategies and processes. It reviews teaching learning process, structures & methodologies of operations and learning outcomes at periodic intervals and records the incremental improvement in various activities
6.5.2(QnM) Quality assurance initiatives of the institution include:
  1. Regular meeting of Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC); quality improvement initiatives identified and implemented
  2. Academic and Administrative Audit (AAA) and follow-up action taken
  3. Collaborative quality initiatives with other institution(s)
  4. Participation in NIRF and other recognized rankings
  5. Any other quality audit/accreditation recognized by state, national or international agencies such as NAAC, NBA etc.

Institutional Values and Best Practices

7.1 Institutional Values and Social Responsibilities
7.1.1(QlM) Institution has initiated the Gender Audit and measures for the promotion of gender equity during the last five years. Describe the gender equity & sensitization in curricular and co-curricular activities, facilities for women on campus etc.
7.1.2(QnM) The Institution has facilities and initiatives for
  1. Alternate sources of energy and energy conservation measures
  2. Management of the various types of degradable and nondegradable waste
  3. Water conservation
  4. Green campus initiatives
  5. Disabled-friendly, barrier free environment
7.1.3(QnM) Quality audits on environment and energy regularly undertaken by the Institution. The institutional environment and energy initiatives are confirmed through the following
  1. Green audit / Environment audit
  2. Energy audit
  3. Clean and green campus initiatives
  4. Beyond the campus environmental promotion activities
7.1.4(QlM) Describe the Institutional efforts/initiatives in providing an inclusive environment i.e., tolerance and harmony towards cultural, regional, linguistic, communal socioeconomic and Sensitization of students and employees to the constitutional obligations: values, rights, duties and responsibilities of citizens
7.2 Best Practices
7.2.1(QlM) Describe two best practices successfully implemented by the Institution as per NAAC format provided in the Manual
7.3 Institutional Distinctiveness
7.3.1(QlM) Portray the performance of the Institution in one area distinctive to its priority and thrust