History | Benefits | Eligibility | Criteria | IQAC
Accreditation being a quality, any university or educational institution when it is recognized to possess a certain set of quality standards, we say it is Accredited. Talk about any authorization, NAAC Accreditation is sure to top the list.
Did you know?
NAAC accreditation is made obligatory for all higher learning institutes by 2022. The stress is more when the state universities strive for UGC grants, financial aid, RUSA grants, as NAAC is linked to the funding for the government-run institutions.
NAAC is not a simple deal. There is so much to refer to. There’s lots and lots of data gathering and compilation, reporting that has to go hand in hand with the process. All this minus, slip-ups.
Whatever it be, we wish to help you get NAAC-ready. Our main intention is to make NAAC appear easy to you. Hence we came up with this post that is a comprehensive rundown of NAAC Accreditation and how we could make you breathe easy throughout the process.
Therefore to anyone who wishes to know the meaning of NAAC, its objectives, NAAC establishment, the vision behind NAAC, the theme on which it is built, NAAC assessment and accreditation process, its importance, grading systems, NAAC Committee, ways to check the NAAC accreditation status, NAAC checklist, NAAC criteria, this post is a piece of cake.
All the above information can be checked right here.
We are aware that India is a nation of diverse education systems. It is therefore unjust to figure out the institution's educational quality with a "single parameter". Distinct Accreditations and their relevant parameters are essential to identify quality in institutions and to measure their potential. NAAC accreditation is one such. Let's learn more about it.
Let’s see if you could relate yourself to this situation—your 'Internal Quality Assessment Cell' on toes in some high-spirited activities or when your infrastructure is restored abruptly, or when your dull library is moved towards automation. All these clearly indicate that the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) is around the corner.
Now coming back to the point, the NAAC is an autonomous body that came into vogue through the initiatives taken by the University Grants Commission (UGC). NAAC’s journey of rating Indian colleges started in the year 1994.
NAAC's main duty is to assess and accredit all higher education institutions across the country. Universities and deemed-to-be universities come under NAAC’s limits. Back then in the 1990s, the NAAC was still an alien. But now in the year 2019, NAAC has been up on its grading line, much appreciated for its transparency in measuring institutes for their quality.
The Assessment and Accreditation (A&A) initiatives of the NAAC is very unique. It adopts a unique review process with a combination of quality evaluations, promotion, and sustenance initiatives to offer grades to institutes.
If you were unfamiliar with what NAAC stands for, it is the acronym of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council.
It spells out Excellence, Credibility, and Relevance, all in one hand.
Holding a NAAC accreditation symbolizes a greater standard of excellence across your institution’s operations.
With NAAC, institutions get the opportunity to,
Getting into NAAC’s history is the right way of knowing it better. Here is the result of our research
We are aware of the rapid growth route higher education has taken post-independence. Primary, secondary, and technical education are no exceptions. With the budding of private institutions, there came many fancy courses that lacked validation. Upholding the quality and relevance of higher education was really a big question.
It is exactly at this time that the 'National Policy on Education’ (1986) ‘Plan of Action’ (1992) propagated the need for an independent national accreditation body that works towards assessing and accrediting higher education institutions in India. The idea is to basically sort out the pitfalls in a few areas in HEIs in India.
The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) was established in 1994 by the University Grants Commission (UGC) with the aim of assessing and accrediting higher education institutions in India.
Since its establishment, NAAC has achieved several significant milestones that have shaped the quality and standards of higher education across the country. Here are some key milestones in NAAC's journey:
First Accreditation Cycle (1997): NAAC conducted its first accreditation cycle, evaluating and accrediting a diverse range of universities and colleges.
Introduction of Grading System (2000): NAAC introduced a standardized seven-point grading system for accrediting institutions, providing a clear framework for assessment.
Revised Accreditation Framework (2007): NAAC introduced a revised accreditation framework to align with global quality standards and emphasize continuous improvement in educational institutions.
Autonomous Institutions (2010): NAAC started accrediting autonomous institutions, recognizing their ability to design and offer innovative academic programs.
Introduction of Outcome-Based Accreditation (2016): NAAC introduced Outcome-Based Accreditation, focusing on learning outcomes, research, and innovation.
Digital Initiatives (2017): NAAC implemented online processes for institutions to submit self-study reports and other documents, enhancing transparency and efficiency.
Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) (2020): NAAC introduced the concept of Continuous Quality Improvement, encouraging institutions to embrace ongoing enhancement.
International Collaboration (Ongoing): NAAC established collaborations with international accreditation bodies to promote best practices and global partnerships.
Accreditation Reforms (Ongoing): NAAC continues to refine its accreditation process to reflect the evolving landscape of higher education and ensure quality improvement.
NAAC's vision is to "make quality the defining element of higher education in India through a combination of self and external quality evaluation, promotion and sustenance initiatives".
From a broader perspective, the NAAC has a 5-fold vision.
1. To organize periodic assessments and accreditation of institutions, units, and specific academic programs/projects of higher education
2. To promote the quality of teaching-learning and research in the higher education academic environment
3. To stimulate areas like self-evaluation, accountability, autonomy, and innovations
4. To get involved in research studies, consultancy, and training programs
5. To foster stakeholder collaboration for quality evaluation, promotion, and sustenance. NAAC maintains or upholds the quality of HEIs through collaboration, and stakeholder involvement, by bringing more accountability, transparency, and self-evaluation systems.
Like any other Accreditation council, NAAC too has members who are academic and administrative heads, representatives, specialists, and policy-makers from the higher education space. The General Council (GC) and Executive Committee (EC) take the lead. Heading GC is someone with a strong foot in academics.
NAAC’s director turns out to be the member secretary of GC and EC. In addition to these, there are many advisory committees, statutory bodies, staff, consultants, plus resources from outside that work as a team on NAAC’s policies and practices constantly.
All of them strive to get quality embodiment in higher education institutions, which is NAAC’s vision.
To appear for the NAAC, an institute should actually be considered eligible. Here are NAAC's eligibility criteria;
Higher Education Institutions: Universities, colleges, and standalone institutions that offer higher education programs are eligible.
Minimum Years of Existence: Generally, institutions need to have been in existence for at least six years and have had at least two batches of students graduate.
Recognition: Institutions should be recognized by the appropriate government authority (e.g., UGC, AICTE, MCI, etc.).
Affiliation: Institutions should be affiliated with a recognized university.
Programs Offered: Institutions should have a minimum of two programs for undergraduate or postgraduate studies.
Accreditation Status: Institutions that are already accredited are also eligible for re-accreditation after the validity period.
Submission of SSR: Institutions need to submit a detailed Self-Study Report (SSR) that highlights their strengths, weaknesses, and improvement plans.
Compliance with Regulations: Institutions should adhere to the guidelines and regulations set by NAAC for the accreditation process.
NAAC’s process of quality assurance is similar to those that are followed by the other Quality Assurance (QA) agencies present worldwide.
According to the Revised Accreditation Framework (RAF), the NAAC has a timely step-by-step ICT-enabled accreditation process. The new process of Student Satisfaction Survey, Data Verification, and Validation augments the whole objective of NAAC.
We could feel your pressure to get NAAC accredited. We, therefore, have broken down these three big processes into seven steps, without affecting its flow. We assume you find this easy and helpful to follow.
Here is the order of the internationally accepted NAAC process;
Registration / Application: Institutions apply for accreditation and receive guidelines from NAAC.
Self-Study Report (SSR) Preparation: Institutions prepare a detailed SSR, providing information about their educational practices, infrastructure, governance, student services, and more.
Peer Team Visit: NAAC appoints a peer team comprising experienced educators. The team visits the institution to validate the information provided in the SSR.
Assessment: The peer team assesses the institution based on seven criteria: Curricular Aspects, Teaching-Learning and Evaluation, Research, Consultancy and Extension, Infrastructure and Learning Resources, Student Support and Progression, Governance, Leadership, and Management, and Innovations and Best Practices.
Feedback and Clarification: After the visit, the institution receives feedback and clarifications from the peer team.
Institutional Information for Quality Assessment (IIQA): Institutions provide updated information based on the feedback received.
Scoring and Grade: The peer team scores the institution on each criterion, and an overall grade (A++, A+, A, B, C) is awarded.
NAAC Review: The NAAC Review Committee evaluates the assessment report and grade awarded.
Decision and Accreditation: Based on the committee's recommendation, NAAC decides the accreditation status and notifies the institution.
Publication of Results: The institution's grade and accreditation status are published on the NAAC website.
In simple, the process goes this way;
1. HEIs registration on the NAAC website
2. Institutional Information for Quality Assessment (IIQA)
3. SSR submission on acceptance of IIQA
(On rejection, an institute has 2 attempts to RESUME the IIA form within 1 year)
4. Proceed to Data Validation & Verification (DVV) process and Pre-qualifier Score
5. Preparation for the Student Satisfaction Survey (SSS)
6. Onsite Peer Visit by NAAC
7. Announcement of NAAC's Grading
The criteria are split up so well that it involves the institution’s stakeholders working together.
The whole of the NAAC process, if done manually, could wreck your time and effort. As we mentioned earlier, this is why most institutions go for education ERP software.
NAAC’s criteria require a load of reports—reports of the big five years. Those oodles of data and documentation are sure to take your time. Compiling all of them by yourselves might seem a possible task. But be watchful of those errors that might come along. You seriously cannot risk here with NAAC.
The ERP or the Campus Management system that you choose should streamline and improve the whole institutional process toward getting accredited. Right from the administrational operations to Academics, Outcome-based Education, Curriculum, and library management, everything would be refined.
Especially here in the NAAC process, in steps like IIQA and SSR, a software intervention could help you the most. Right here in the IIQA’s data submission to check for Statutory Regulatory Authority (SRA) compliance and while uploading the supporting documents, Creatrix Accreditation Management software could help. The same goes while uploading Self-study Report (SSR) files and data and while preparing to submit documents related to the Annual Quality Assurance Report (AQAR) as per the proper guidelines and parameters of the NAAC.
Creatrix could help you with faster report generation and improve your NAAC grade and CGPA points. The institution not only gets to collate and upload complicated NAAC documents easily but also gets to evaluate itself on various parameters and find ways for improvement.
Back to the point from where we left off, NAAC takes a clear peep into the quality aspect of the HEIs, especially of the Assessments.
The Assessment and Accreditation (A&A) have outlined well-strategized quality initiatives, quality sustenance, and quality enhancement measures that keep NAAC’s vision focused and intact.
There are on-site observations to monitor and evaluate the institution’s functioning, the self-evaluation process, and the involvement of all stakeholders in SSR submission, all show NAAC’s focus on assessment.
NAAC critically focuses on getting a criteria-based assessment into the following seven areas of higher education.
All these criteria have a list of key indicators and metrics under them.
We would like to repeat here that NAAC has grouped HEIs into University, Autonomous, and Affiliated/Constituent colleges. NAAC has distributed different weightages to these seven categories of institutions based on their focus and types.
The image below explains the NAAC Assessment Criteria with their scores.
Source: NAAC Website
NAAC’s grading depends on two criteria.
The former is the qualitative report of the outcome that is objective in nature. This is submitted upon the visit of the peer team’s visit. The latter is a quantitative report of the outcome that is based on the 7 criteria, Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA), Letter Grade, and Performance Descriptor.
If you may ask what CGPA and letter grades are, they are the certifications that are conferred by the NAAC at the end of the A&A process. The letter grade is a consolidation of the institute’s quality level along with its performance descriptor and accreditation status. All these are purely a result of the CGPA scored by the assessment process.
The below image helps you understand the NAAC Grading system better.
As you may see in the above image, there are a total of 8 letter grades namely A++, A+, A, B++, B+, B, C, and D. Universities with “A” series grades are believed to impart outstanding quality standards in terms of academics, facilities, and develop prospective students.
According to the Revised Accreditation Framework (RAF), here is the latest count of institutions that are accredited by type and grade. By type, they are categorized into Colleges and Universities. By Grades, they are separated by the eight grades including, A++, A+, A, B++, B+, B, C, and D.
The below images would help you understand the scenario better.
Source: NAAC website
NAAC’s new grading system qualifies the Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) with a letter grade status.
With the time-tested metrics, patterns, and procedures, it is indeed tough for all higher education institutes to aspire to get an A++ grade from NAAC. While the evidential data submission adds to 70% of the total score, the physical verification gives a qualitative contribution of 30%.
To be more precise, HEIs with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) ranging between 3.76 and 4.00 achieve letter grade A++. They are said to have achieved their highest grade of accreditation in the seven criteria.
HEIs that fall between a CGPA of 2.76 - 3.00 fall under the B++ category.
NAAC accredited B++ signifies that an educational institution has demonstrated commendable performance in various aspects and has been awarded a credible accreditation grade by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) in India. This grade indicates that the institution has met certain quality standards and criteria set by NAAC, reflecting a level of excellence in its educational processes, infrastructure, faculty, and overall performance.
The NAAC process involves a partnership approach between the NAAC team and the institution that is being assessed. The process hence is believed to be transparent, clear, and complying with NAAC’s values and notions.
Irrespective of these, there are chances for grievances to occur. Grievances materialize when the institution is not happy with the status issued by NAAC. Grievance redressal for NAAC refers to the process through which educational institutions can address any concerns, complaints, or grievances related to their NAAC accreditation assessment or outcome. This mechanism allows institutions to communicate their grievances to NAAC and seek resolution for issues they may have faced during the accreditation process.
*We would like to mention here that the mechanism of the appeal process is similar to the existing one. There are no new revisions made to it in the Revised Accreditation Framework (RTF). But if there be any in the future, we will update here for you.
Immediately when NAAC announces its status, and if the Institute is not happy with the scores given, and in case of a grievance, it could request a Letter of Intent (LOI).
To be noted:
- This appeal requesting the criterion-wise scores should reach NAAC within 30 days upon receiving the letter intimating the accreditation status from the NAAC.
- This appeal should be submitted with a non-refundable fee of Rs. 20,000/, inclusive of 15% service tax.
On receiving this, the Appeals Committee of the Assessment and Accreditation (A&A) takes charge. This would then be taken into the Executive Committee, which in fact has its final say.
The NAAC grievance redressal process involves the following steps:
Submission of Grievance: Institutions can submit their grievances through a formal letter or email to the NAAC office. The letter should clearly outline the nature of the grievance, relevant details, and any supporting documents.
Review and Acknowledgment: Upon receiving the grievance, NAAC reviews the submission to ensure that it meets the criteria for consideration. The institution receives an acknowledgment of the grievance submission.
Investigation: NAAC initiates an investigation into the grievance by analyzing relevant documents, communication, and any other evidence provided. This may involve discussions with the institution and relevant parties.
Resolution: Based on the investigation, NAAC works to resolve the grievance in a fair and objective manner. This could involve corrective actions, adjustments to the accreditation process, or clarifications as needed.
Communication: NAAC communicates the findings and resolution to the institution, explaining the steps taken to address the grievance. If necessary, the institution may be required to provide further information.
Appeal: If the institution is not satisfied with the resolution, they have the option to appeal the decision to a higher authority within NAAC. The appeal process involves a reevaluation of the grievance by an independent committee.
Final Decision: The final decision on the grievance is communicated to the institution. If the institution is still dissatisfied, they may have the option to seek legal recourse.
Reassessment happens when Institutions prefer to make improvements to their accreditation status.
The importance of reassessment is crucial. It is wise to quote what H Deleep, Commissioner, Higher & Technical Education, Vice-Chancellor of Dhanamanjuri University, has claimed recently in the news daily at Imphal: “Colleges and higher educational institutes should put its effort to overcome any weakness and improve its performance to get a better grade of NAAC.”
Source: As quoted in E-Pao.net based on the news published by respected news daily at Imphal.
To be noted:
- The reassessment follows the same manual as that of the Assessment and Accreditation. The only exception is, as per the peer team’s recommendations, the institution may have to share some specific responses.
- The fee structure is just the same as that of the first time Assessment and Accreditation.
NAac's period validity was for five years from its date of approval, but not anymore!
According to a new enhancement made in the year 2017, the Assessment and Accreditation (A&A) have extended its five-year period validity to a further two years. But not to all!
This applies to educational institutions that get the highest grade from it. That too, only to institutions that have procured the highest grades in all their three cycles continuously.
The Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) stands as the sole authority for quality sustenance in an institute, post its accreditation. They initiate, plan and supervise quality matters.
Therefore any institute that has achieved its NAAC status is sure to have an active IQAC on its premises.
The IQAC mostly consists of the following members.
To be noted:
These nominated members shall be in action for a 2-year time. The IQAC should meet up at least once in a quarter.
IQAC’s main task is to prepare and submit the Annual Quality Assurance Report (AQAR) every year which is a mandate according to NAAC. This is a quality sustenance measure that every institute should adhere to.
According to NAAC, the IQAC has to achieve the following goals;
The new Fee Structure, with effect from August 15, 2017, is as follows;
*The fee structure is subject to vary. We would try to make updates as per the changes.
As an exemption, the Professional Institutions would be charged in line with their fee structure applicable to universities. This involves Engineering and Technology, Law, Management Studies, and Health Sciences (Ayurveda, Allopathy, Dental, Homoeopathy, Pharmacy, Nursing, etc.).
The fee should be made in the Demand Draft against the NAAC Director, at Bangalore. The mode of payment should be done in Demand Draft in favor of the Director, NAAC and the payable location is at Bangalore.
You should also know that institutions that are receiving UGC development grants under sections 2(f) and 12B of the UGC Act are evaded from paying the A&A fees. On submission of the grant sanction letter from the UGC and an attestation letter by the Head of the Institution, along with the other necessary documents, the expenses spent on the TA/DA of the peer team visit could be reimbursed as well.
The accreditation journey of an institution involves distinct cycles.
When an institution is undergoing the accreditation process for the first time, it is categorized under Cycle 1. Subsequent cycles are denoted as Cycle 2, Cycle 3, Cycle 4, and so forth. Each cycle represents a stage in the institution's ongoing commitment to quality enhancement and evaluation through the NAAC accreditation process.
Whereas Cycles 2, 3, etc. require these below;
NAAC applies its accreditation framework to various categories of institutions within the higher education sector. These categories encompass universities, autonomous colleges, affiliated colleges, and standalone institutions. Each category is assessed based on specific criteria and standards tailored to its unique characteristics and academic offerings. The category of colleges that NAAC includes are;
HEI's applying for the Assessment and Accreditation review process should be aware of the complete how-to-apply process.
You could read the NAAC official website carefully which explains the registration process with a step-by-step flowchart.
Before you get started, we would like you to be aware of the two window systems, which accept applications at two different points in the year, i.e., May 1st – June 30th & November 1st – December 31st. These Timelines for A&A Process in the Inaugural window update are as per the Revised Accreditation Framework.
Do not worry, if there are any changes with reference to the dates, we would be updating them right here.
The next is to check their eligibility through the Institutional Information for Quality Assessment (IIQA), online.
We would like you to get back to the NAAC accreditation process once again in this post as the rest of the steps follow the usual Assessment and Accreditation (A&A) process.
Believe it or not, NAAC is emerging to be a massive game-changer. It is wise to have assumptions that institutes with “No NAAC Accreditation” by 2030 might stop continuing and might lose their existence forever.
About NAAC being made a mandate, many still have this question. Here is a clear picture of your query.
The University Grants Commission has mandated Universities, Colleges to have NAAC accreditation with a minimum score of 2.5 by 2022.
To speed up the process, the UGC has started mentoring all non-accredited institutions, so they walk away with NAAC accreditation by 2022.
Though this mandate is from UGC, NAAC doesn’t seem to back this up on its website as yet. We only could conclude that it is all vested in the institute’s interest in betterment.
But there are many reasons why institutes should opt for NAAC. It gives immense benefits to students, and institutions on the whole.
To check NAAC accreditation results for an educational institution, follow these steps:
Visit NAAC's official website: Go to the official website of NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council).
Navigate to Accredited Institutions: Look for the "Accredited Institutions" section on the website. This is usually located prominently on the homepage.
Search for Institution: Use the search function to find the specific institution you want to check the accreditation status for. You can search by the name of the institution or its location.
View Accreditation Details: Once you find the institution, you will see its accreditation details displayed. This will include the accreditation grade, the cycle of accreditation, and any additional information available.
Access Full Report: If you want to access the detailed accreditation report for the institution, there should be an option to download or view the report. This report will provide comprehensive information about the institution's assessment, evaluation, and accreditation process.
Whether NAAC or NBA accreditation is better depends on the type of institution and the programs they offer. Both accreditations serve different purposes and have different scopes:
NAAC Accreditation:
NBA Accreditation:
The choice between NAAC and NBA accreditation depends on the nature of the institution and the programs it offers. If an institution offers a range of programs beyond technical and engineering fields, NAAC accreditation might be more suitable. On the other hand, institutions primarily focused on technical education might opt for NBA accreditation to showcase the quality of their technical programs.
Here's a comparison table highlighting the key differences between NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council) and NBA (National Board of Accreditation) accreditations:
NAAC and UGC are two distinct entities in the context of higher education in India, each serving different roles:
NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council)
UGC (University Grants Commission)
In summary, NAAC is an agency under the purview of UGC, and its main function is to assess and accredit higher education institutions based on comprehensive quality parameters. UGC, on the other hand, is the regulatory authority that formulates policies and maintains standards for higher education institutions in India. Both NAAC and UGC play crucial roles in ensuring the quality, relevance, and excellence of higher education in the country.
We hope you got a holistic picture of the NAAC now. If your next step is to set the stage for NAAC, Creatrix could help you.
The whole of the NAAC process, if done manually, could wreck your time and effort. As we mentioned earlier, this is why most institutions go for higher education ERP software like Creatrix Campus. Our Accreditation Management Software is well-equipped to handle all NAAC-related submissions and collations. Our end-to-end Campus Management system can streamline and improve the whole institutional process toward getting accredited. Right from the administrational operations to Academics, Assessment Management, Outcome-based Education, Curriculum, and library management, everything can be refined.
By utilizing Creatrix Campus, institutions can simplify NAAC submissions, enhance collaboration, streamline the SSR creation process, facilitate the peer team visit, conduct effective Student Satisfaction Surveys, and ensure accurate data verification and validation.
Some of the NAAC process that Creatrix Campus could automate include;
Task Coordination: For the Peer Team Visit, Creatrix Campus enables task assignment, tracking, and monitoring. Institutions can assign responsibilities to various stakeholders, ensuring a smooth peer team visit preparation.
Student Satisfaction Survey (SSS): Creatrix Campus allows institutions to conduct the Student Satisfaction Survey seamlessly. The platform enables survey creation, distribution, data collection, and analysis, providing insights into student perspectives.
Data Verification and Validation: During the Data Verification and Validation phase, Creatrix Campus helps institutions ensure the accuracy and completeness of data. Automated checks and validation mechanisms minimize errors and discrepancies.
Real-time Tracking: Administrators can track the progress of various stages, such as SSR preparation, peer team visit arrangements, and data verification. Real-time insights help in monitoring completion and identifying any gaps.
Auditing and Reporting: Creatrix Campus generates comprehensive reports and audit trails, providing transparency and accountability throughout the NAAC submission process. This feature aids in maintaining accurate records.
NAAC Accreditation is not just about holding a symbol of prestige, but a journey towards achieving quality and excellence. And we pride ourselves in acting as a catalyst for change. Contact our team now.