Quality in Higher Education: A NAAC initiative

Abstract

The vision statement of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council states that it seeks “to make quality the defining element of higher education in India through a combination of self and external quality evaluation, promotion and sustenance initiatives”.* In its quest for excellence and compliance with global competencies, it is essential that institutes of higher education comply with quality markers to ensure holistic growth of all stakeholders. It is also imperative that institutes work in tandem with the higher education policies set out at the national level to ensure a comprehensive growth which provides a value based educational system that leads to higher academics, employment or/and entrepreneurship. Both internal and external audits are integral to compliance of quality assurance. Assessment and accreditation by a nationalized body is one major step in this process of self-evaluation and improvement. The process of compiling, collating and evaluating data for preparation of the Self Study Report is integral to this process. Seven aspects of the institute ranging from curricular aspects to teaching, learning and evaluation, research and consultancy to infrastructure and learning resources amongst others are evaluated in a structured manner to bring forth a cogent, transparent and cohesive SWOC analysis. This paper will not only foreground the need for such periodic assessments which, will “stimulate the academic environment for promotion of quality of teaching-learning and research in higher education institutions”* but will also lead to systemic improvement in all processes and functions of the institute and aid significantly in promoting holistic excellence.