COIMBATORE: Seventeen out of the 38 deemed universities in all of India, which were earlier blacklisted by the Tandon Committee, have managed to get ‘A’ grading from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), which assessed these institutions based on a Supreme Court order.
Out of the 15 deemed universities from Tamil Nadu which figured on this list, six have managed to get ‘A’ grade.
In October 2009, a committee of experts, headed by PN Tandon, reviewed deemed universities and classified those under three categories, firstly 38 deemed universities which justified their continuation, second 44 deemed universities which needed to rectify deficiencies over a three year period and thirdly another 44 deemed universities which the committee felt don’t have the quality to continue the status. In a case pertaining to these deemed universities continuing their status, the Supreme Court in September ordered the NAAC to assess these universities. The NAAC has done its accreditation at its meeting on November 16 and submitted its report to the apex court.
Out of the 38 deemed universities, 17 have been accredited by the NAAC with ‘A’ grade and 20 have been given ‘B’ grade and one in Uttar Pradesh was given ‘C’ grade.
Among the 15 deemed universities from Tamil Nadu, six have managed to secure ‘A’ grade and the remaining nine have got ‘B’ grade.
Those deemed universities from Tamil Nadu which have got ‘A’ grade, includes Bharathi Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chettinad Academy Research and Education, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences and Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr Sagunthala R&D Institute of Science and Technology, all from Chennai, Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education, Srivilliputhur and Noorul Islam Center for Higher Education, Thuckalay.
S Vaidhyasubramaniam, Dean, Sastra University said, “Since the NAAC grading has been submitted, the Tandon Committee is no longer valid and it should be delinked while taking policy decision on higher education. Henceforth, the UGC and MHRD’s policy making must be guided by NAAC scores and should encourage progressive deemed universities and take action against erring institutions public and private together.”