Major Reforms in Accreditation of Higher Education Institutions by UGC
In this article, we will discuss the Major Reforms in the Accreditation of Higher Education Institutions by UGC
The National Education Policy (NEP 2020) is hastening the process of reform in India’s university system. Aiming for 50% GER in higher education by 2037 is part of a larger effort to improve the quality of education, a priority for the country.
We anticipate world-class competition from the leading Indian universities. Not just facilities and inputs, but processes like teaching-learning, research and innovation, engaged teachers, improving employable skills, academic ambiance, commitment to sustainability, and fairness and social integration are crucial for attaining better levels of excellence.
The reform of India’s universities relies heavily on accreditation and ranking systems. In November 2022, the Ministry of Education, Government of India, established an overarching committee to propose groundbreaking reforms to enhance the assessment and accreditation of India’s higher education institutions. The committee was chaired by Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, who had previously served as chairman of ISRO and the Standing Committee of the IIT Council.
Those interested in reviewing the committee’s early findings can do so on the official website of the Indian government. The Hon’ble Minister of Education, Government of India Shri. Dharmendra Pradhan was presented with the final report on January 16, 2024, and the Minister has accepted it. The report incorporates various feedbacks received from stakeholders.
To improve the ranking, evaluation, and periodic approval of “All HEIs” of India, a package of revolutionary changes has been suggested. The proposed reforms aim to align with the Vision of NEP 2020 and establish a system for the approval, accreditation, and ranking of higher education institutions (HEIs) that is simple, trustworthy, credible, objective, and rationalized. This system would be technology-driven and modern, with the goal of replacing or minimizing manual involvement, making the accreditation process transparent, and integrating stakeholder inputs. As they strive for greatness, relevance, and international recognition, the suggestion centers on mentoring and incentive programs to boost their engagement and certification levels.
Major Reforms in the Accreditation of Higher Education Institutions by UGC
Highlights of the suggestions are as follows:
Aiming to promote all institutions to participate in the accrediting process and foster a culture of quality in higher education, binary accreditation (either accredited or not accredited) is being considered as an alternative to grades. Binary accreditation is also consistent with industry standards set by several developed nations.
With the help of a maturity-based grading system, accredited institutions can work their way up the accreditation ladder, from “Level 1” to “Level 4” as Institutions of National Excellence, and finally to “Level 5” as Institutions of Global Excellence for Multi-Disciplinary Research and Education, all while being encouraged to raise the bar, improve continuously, and evolve in-depth or in-breadth across disciplines. Indian institutions would be able to raise their quality and compete with the best in the world thanks to the tiers of accreditation.
Rather than being input-centric, the criteria for both Binary and Maturity-Based Graded Accreditation should center on Processes, Outcomes, and Impact across many HEI qualities. Rather than using a cookie-cutter approach, the new process will take into account the diversity of higher education institutions (HEIs) across the nation, classify them according to their mission and history, and then collect data specifically tailored to each category. Institutions in rural and distant areas will receive extra attention in the form of mentoring and handholding.
Transparency and integrity in the handling of institutional data have prompted the proposal of a “One Nation, One Data Platform” as an element of the reform. The new system will collect a subset of data from HEIs for several uses, including approval, certification, and ranking, and it will have a built-in mechanism for collateral cross-checking to ensure that the data is valid. Furthermore, a method called “Stakeholder validation” has been suggested to effectively incorporate stakeholders into the certification and ranking process, which would enhance the data’s validity and dependability.
There will be severe consequences for incorrect submissions, but the system will be trust- and data-driven, requiring few trips to an institution for verification. There will also be a way for stakeholders like students, funding organizations, and businesses to have their own personalized rankings.
At its 104th meeting on January 27, 2024, the National Assessment and Accreditation Council’s (NAAC) Executive Committee reached the following decisions.
Two phases will be used to execute the suggested changes. At the first step, we will deploy the Binary accreditation within the next four months. After that, we will no longer accept new applications using the current system. Any institution that has applied or will apply within the next four months can choose between the current approach and the new binary accrediting system. December 2024 is the target date for the implementation of the maturity-based graded levels.
The data collection and validation process will also incorporate the new methodology and formats suggested by the Dr. Radhakrishnan committee report. This will ensure that the system is user-friendly, easy to use, and runs smoothly.
In line with the Amrit Kaal vision of Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Indian higher education system is set to undergo a dramatic transformation by the end of 2024 if all of the recommendations are fully implemented. This will improve the standing of Indian institutions, which in turn will help propel India to the forefront of Indian society and economy.
