Assessment and Accreditation of institutions of higher education is being recognized as the quality ensuring mechanism all over the world. NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council) was established by University Grants Commission (UGC) in 1994 for evaluating the performance of universities and colleges in the country. NAAC’s mandate includes the task of performance evaluation, assessment and accreditation of universities and colleges in the country. The philosophy of NAAC is based on objective and continuous improvement rather than punitive or judgmental, so that all institutions of higher education are empowered to maximize their resources, opportunities and capabilities. Assessment is a performance evaluation of an institution and/or its units and is accomplished through a process based on self study and peer review using defined criterion. Accreditation refers to the certification given by NAAC which is valid for a period of five years. Assessment and accreditation by NAAC is done on a voluntary basis.
Are assessment and accreditation synonyms of quality? Or is this a response to the globalization of human endeavors where production function of education figures prominently as education has been transformed from state driven activity to market driven activity overlooking the primary concern of the university….. the development of human ingenuity. Also linked are the important issues of objectivity in the operative process of assessment and its sensitivity to social dynamics of history and diversity. Equally important are the ramifications of the general rating of the institutions. Apart from the questionability of its applicability to all teachers of that institution, it provides space for discontent, contempt or excitement. The paper concludes delineating important issues which needs to be addressed to upkeep the spirit of its mandate.
The paper would highlight the way NAAC has been functioning without any statutatory authority influencing the quality initiatives in higher education. The case provides an interesting new model for quality management in higher education for other countries to emulate.