KOCHI: The Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) will not get its accreditation renewed by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council this year. The inspection by the NAAC team as part of the renewal of accreditation will not happen in September as the varsity has not completed the formalities before the inspection.
The varsity authorities earlier said that they had fulfilled the necessary criteria to renew the accreditation status and that the NAAC team would visit the main campus in September for the renewal of accreditation. “We have to submit some more documents. Therefore the inspection may happen in December only,” says CUSAT registrar David Peter.
Though one of the most sought after Science and Technology universities in the country, CUSAT has not renewed its UGC accreditation in the last six years. As per the norms of the University Grants Commission (UGC), higher education institutions and faculties, schools, departments and centres are not eligible for financial assistance from the UGC if they are not accredited by the NAAC.
Institutions which do not comply with the conditions given in the notification also face the threat of withdrawal of allotted funds.
All accredited higher education institutions have to apply for reaccreditation six months before the expiry of the period, in accordance with the norms prescribed by the relevant accreditation agency.
An institution which has completed six years of existence or from which two batches of students have passed out should apply for the accreditation.
Delay in accreditation will become costly for the varsity as financial assistance will be discontinued for non-accredited institutions for academic activities, including research.
According to varsity authorities, the release of funds from certain government sources is already blocked as the accreditation is not renewed.