WE THE PEOPLE
NAAC's Accreditation to KU with Grade A in 2002 was only for five years and further Sanction still awaited
Hence Watchers urge VC to get Accreditation to Restore its Status without any further Delay
By: MNS/ Makhdoomi
Srinagar: Kashmir University is considered the highest academic and intellectual seat of Kashmir. Over the years, the University has been in news for both positive as well as negative reasons.A few years back, the gaining of high class rating from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) had very much boosted this university and made the people of Kashmir Valley feel proud. Pertinently, KU was accredited with Grade A in the year 2002 after it had voluntarily applied and completed the application process.
But now realities have changed somewhat in a negative manner with reference to the NAAC Accreditation of the Kashmir University. KU, figures in the list of validity-expired institutions issued by NAAC on its official website (http://www.naac.gov.in). After being established in 1994, the NAAC accreditation was initially ?voluntary? and was given for a period of five years with a breathing period of two years during which the institution could apply for re-accreditation while retaining the accreditation. While its actual accreditation status expired in 2007, KU had a relaxation.
It is worth mentioning here that NAAC is an Organization that assesses and accredits Institutions of higher education in India. It is an autonomous Body funded by University Grants Commission of Government of India headquartered in Bangalore.
NAAC was established in 1994 in response to recommendations of National Policy in Education (1986). This policy was to "address the issues of deterioration in quality of education", and the Plan of Action (POA-1992) laid out strategic plans for the policies including the establishment of an independent national accreditation Body.
Accreditation from NAAC is a three part process consisting of the preparation and submission of a self-study report by the unit of assessment. Once completed and published an on-site visit of the peer team for validation of the self-study report is done with recommendations of the assessment. Lastly, the final decision is made by the Executive Committee of the NAAC.
Recently, an Academician Professor Talat Ahmad took over as the new Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Kashmir University and students are hoping that under his leadership the Kashmir University would once again gain high class NAAC rating when the NAAC team shortly inspects the University probably in the next few weeks.
Kumail Ahmad, a student said, "NAAC Accreditation is very must for a university in the present era and we are hopeful that very soon the Kashmir University would once again gain back its top NAAC ratings back so that it moves towards an era of excellence. The NAAC Accreditation in India has really helped the institutions to move ahead in a right direction and is very must for healthy growth of our higher educational institutes."
As a matter of fact, there are about 196 parameters used in NAAC Accreditation to accredit the institutions. NAAC has so far accredited 161 universities and 4371 colleges across the length and breadth of the country.
After the change of guard in the Kashmir University, one is hopeful that this all important Institution would move forward and gain new academic excellence and brighter NAAC Accreditation really forms an important aspect with reference to this. Watchers nurse apprehensions that the University of Kashmir may not find its place where it was earlier, but only Time will prove the potential of the new guard!
More 
