NIRF Ranking and Other Gradings Will Soon Have Sustainability Parameter: NAAC-NBA Chairman

In a recent interview, Prof. Anil Sahsrabuddhe, Chairman of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), the National Board of Accreditation (NBA), and the National Educational Technology Forum (NETF), revealed significant upcoming changes in India's higher education landscape. The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) will soon incorporate a sustainability parameter alongside the introduction of the binary accreditation system and maturity level accreditation.

Personal Journey

Prof. Sahsrabuddhe shared insights into his educational journey, rooted in a lower-class Indian family. Despite financial hardships, his parents, especially his mother, emphasized the importance of education. "My mother played a very strong role in my educational journey," he said. Overcoming obstacles, including leaving school temporarily to support his family, Prof. Sahsrabuddhe continued his studies with the help of relatives and the National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) scholarship, eventually earning a PhD in mechanical engineering from the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru.

Research and Academic Integrity

Addressing the state of research in India, Prof. Sahsrabuddhe emphasized the need for a critical and analytical approach from an early age. He criticized plagiarism among professors and highlighted the importance of original research. "Professors must not plagiarize research from other sources. Unfortunately, Indian professors are caught passing off other people’s work as their own," he stated.

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Inclusive Education and Rural Insights

The new National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 focuses on inclusive and multidisciplinary education. Prof. Sahsrabuddhe noted that students from rural areas often possess better observational skills due to their close interaction with nature. "Students from rural areas surely have better observation power than many who are living in cities," he observed.

Encouraging Technical Research

Discussing the role of NAAC and NBA in promoting technical research in private institutions, Prof. Sahsrabuddhe suggested leveraging government endowments, corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds, and industry collaborations. He emphasized the importance of integrity in research, regardless of the required resources.

NIRF Ranking Changes

Prof. Sahsrabuddhe announced upcoming changes to the NIRF ranking system to account for the diverse nature of Indian educational institutions. Parameters will be tailored to fully autonomous universities, affiliated colleges, and institutions in tier-1, tier-2, and tier-3 cities. "We will do the segregation for colleges and institutions, for tier 1, 2, and 3 cities and towns as well," he explained.

Binary Accreditation System

The NEP 2020 mandates reforms in the accreditation system, transitioning from an eight-point grading system to a binary accreditation system, where institutions will be either accredited or non-accredited. This aims to eliminate unfair practices and encourage higher educational standards across all institutions.

Sustainability in Rankings

A key highlight of the interview was the inclusion of a sustainability parameter in the NIRF ranking. Prof. Sahsrabuddhe emphasized the importance of sustainability practices like energy saving, waste management, and recycling in educational institutions. "We will also give scores to those institutions that are adapting sustainability practices," he confirmed.

Employability and Skill Development

Addressing concerns from the International Labor Organization’s "India Employment Report 2024," Prof. Sahsrabuddhe stressed the importance of aligning curriculum with real-world problems and enhancing employability through internships and skill-based education.

One Nation, One Data

The NAAC and NBA are set to introduce the "One Nation, One Data" initiative, streamlining data submission for higher education institutions (HEIs). This will ensure accurate data submission, reduce inconsistencies and enhance the assessment process.

Future Priorities

Looking ahead, Prof. Sahsrabuddhe outlined the council's top priorities: accrediting all HEIs, strengthening maturity-based accreditation, and mentoring institutions to improve their infrastructure and functionalities.

In conclusion, the interview with Prof. Anil Sahsrbuddhe reflects a forward-looking approach towards transforming India's educational accreditation landscape. The integration of sustainability parameters into NIRF rankings and accreditation gradings marks a significant step towards promoting environmental responsibility and holistic education. As India prepares to implement these reforms, stakeholders await further details on the operationalization of sustainability criteria and its impact on shaping the future of higher education in the country.

Through these initiatives, the NAAC and NBA, under Prof. Sahsrbuddhe's leadership aims to not only enhance the quality of education but also nurture a generation of students equipped to address global challenges through sustainable practices and multidisciplinary learning.

Read the complete interview Here:

https://educationpost.in/news/in-conversation/naac-accreditation-should-encourage-integrity-research-regardless-funding-prof-anil-sahasrabudhe.

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