The Ranchi University is gearing up for its first ever National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) grading ever since its establishment in 1960. In an attempt to gain better grading, all the university officials including Post Graduation Department (PG) heads have been instructed to complete all pending tasks on or before April 10.
The ten members’ team will inspect 22 departments functioning under all the PG streams including vocational courses. The team comprising Chairperson and Secretary will collect the detailed report from the Heads of the departments. On the set components the university will be graded accordingly. The assessment is scheduled from April 17 to April 19.
Only after the NAAC grading, the university will be eligible for getting funds provided to the university under Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA). “The preparations are on full swing. Components like sanitation on campus premises, preparation of academic data, mounting hoardings with signs and warnings like ‘No smoking zone’, anti ragging are being ensured by the officials. Committees set up for several purposes as per UGC guidelines are also being strengthened with all essential features,” said, Pro VC, Dr. Kamini Kumar.
linking up all the departments with Internet facility is one prime criterion and all department heads have been instructed to ensure that the department is equipped with Hi-speed broadband service. “Digitalisation has always been in the priority list. Beside, providing Wi-Fi service at RU Central library, all departments are also being upgraded with Internet facility. Examination Centre is being scrutinized and all loopholes are being filled up,” added, the PRO VC.
However, insufficient number of teaching faculties at various departments may pose some hurdle in getting the desired grading from the team. Notably, after 2008, no teaching faculty has been appointed in varsity in any department. “We have ample number of NET qualified teaching staffs including some retired professors who are lending their service on contractual basis here. As far as appointment is concerned, State government through JPSC hold the right to appoint permanent faculty staffs. From our side, roster clearance work is complete,” added Kumar.
Notably, from 2016, NAAC accreditation has been made compulsory for receiving the RUSA funds. The NAAC team will lay special emphasis on university curriculum, research projects, infrastructure and learning centers, teaching and evaluation pattern, extracurricular activities including developmental and innovative ventures to grade the varsity.
Sanjay Mishra, Director of Educational Quality Assurance Cell (EQAC) at RU, said that the heads of all departments have been asked to prepare a self assessment report focusing on some key points which includes academic qualification of teachers, number of seminars and workshops organised by the department including the publication of some major journals.
RU Students’ Union (PG) President, Tanuj Khatri said that survey of all PG departments has been complete. The student union will present their findings to the team members separately. Ironically, the student union took the initiative by them to compile the report as so far they have not received any formal letter from the university officials to prepare a report for NAAC. According to the provision made, NAAC team separately consults student union members on the status of various departments functioning at the university.