NAAC certification for GGSIPU which expired in march last is yet to be renewed

Updated on: Thursday, March 14, 2013

The National Assessment and Accreditation Council's (NAAC) certification for Guru Gobind Singh Indraparstha University (GGSIPU) expired last March and it is yet to be renewed. The university claims it has moved papers for the mandatory renewal, but NAAC insists it's yet to receive several key documents from the university.

At stake are the futures of more than 20,000 students who go to the Delhi government-run institution. University Grants Commission (UGC) mandates that all universities and colleges under its purview must be NAAC-accredited and also linked it to funding and recognition.

Despite the expiry of the accreditation status, the university's new-look website and admission brochure for academic year 2013-14 continue to flaunt its "A" grade. This goes against NAAC's clear instructions stating: "Institutions are advised not to use the status of accreditation after the validity period is over. This amounts to misleading the stakeholders in general and in particular students and public. Institutions are liable to face stringent action by NAAC."

The GGSIPU got accredited in March 2007 and its validity ended on March 2012. Across courses, it admits 22,000 annually. NAAC director H A Ranganath said: "It's mentioned in the NAAC website as well that post the validity period, institutions are not supposed to use that status as it amounts to misleading students. Since it has been brought to our notice that GGSIPU is mentioning this in their new admission brochures and website, we'll write to the university seeking an explanation." GGSIPU's name also figures in the NAAC's official website under the section "institutions accredited by NAAC whose accreditation validity period is over."

GGSIPU VC D K Bandyopadhyay said the university had applied for re-accreditation on March 2012 and was awaiting NAAC's assessment. He blamed NAAC for the delay. "We applied in March 2012 and the documents have been sent to NAAC." Asked why the university continues to display its old accreditation status, he said: "We are expecting the NAAC's team visit any time."

NAAC officials said the varsity's documentation process was incomplete and NAAC had asked for a self-study report which GGSIPU hasn't sent. "GGSIPU should have applied well in advance as they are aware of the process and validity duration," a NAAC official said. In fact the gazette notification of January 19, 2013 on accreditation said institutions should "apply for re-accreditation six months before the expiry of the five-year period."

As per the notification, no higher education institution or its faculties, schools, departments, centres or units shall be eligible to apply for or receive financial assistance from UGC without undergoing assessment and accreditation.

NAAC certification for GGSIPU which expired in march last is yet to be renewed

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