Varsity to vie for NAAC tag post 2020 convocation
Kolkata: West Bengal State University (WBSU) is all set to seek accreditation from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) soon after its 2020 convocation.
"We may not be in a position to compete with the old universities in the state. But we feel that it is time for our university to take part in competition and have an idea of how far we have been able to improve in academics and certain other parameters," said Basab Chaudhuri, vice chancellor of WBSU.
There are seven parameters under which NAAC accredits a university. It includes teaching-learning process, modification of syllabus, services and facilities for students such as extra- curricular activities, steps towards creation of jobs and environmental friendly steps taken by the varsity.
In the present process of accreditation of a university by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council, the latter has to reply to a set of questions regarding its various
activities in yes/ no format and upload it on the website of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council.
If the self study report uploaded by the institution is found to be satisfactory then NAAC would inform the former the date when it would visit that institution and check on their own whether it really possess the infrastructure that it has declared in the study report and then would accredit it.
If found unsatisfactory, then they would mention the areas in which the institution has to improve.
Previously, a team from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council, which is an autonomous body funded by University Grants Commission, would directly come to an institution and find out on their own what are the activities and would accordingly accredit it.
Under the current process, 70 percent of the accreditation depend upon the self study report and 30 percent on the findings of the visiting NAAC team.
"Our teachers and students have already been sensitized about the varsity going for NAAC credit," a senior varsity official said.
The West Bengal State University since its inception in 2008 had been embroiled in administrative red-tapism and had its first convocation in 2017.
The inordinate delay in the publication of results was one of the major problems in the varsity. After Basab Chaudhuri took over as the Vice-Chancellor in September 2015 he streamlined the examination process and publication of results.
At present, WBSU in Barasat has 46 colleges affiliated to it with an average enrollment of 55,000 students. It caters to a large number of first-generation learners.
