VISAKHAPATNAM: Overcoming hurdles like faculty shortage, Andhra University has not only retained its ‘A’ grade awarded by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) but also bettered its position by securing fourth slot among the top universities in the country. Earlier, the varsity was ranked 11th. However, the NAAC rating decreased marginally to 3.60 out of 4 points scale this year from 3.65 points during its previous rating.
The 12th Standing Committee meeting of the NAAC held at Bangalore on Friday, recommended the new rating and ‘A’ grade to the AU. This is the third consecutive time that the AU received the ‘A’ grade. The varsity got second place among all Indian state-run universities and fourth among all universities in India. The top three slots were secured by Jawaharlal Nehru University of Delhi and University of Hyderabad and Jadavpur University respectively. While the JNU and the UoH are Central universities, Jadavpur University is a state-run university.
HRD minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao told newsmen here on Saturday that the NAAC team which inspected the university between January 18 and 21, evaluated the varsity under seven criteria including curricular aspects; teaching, learning and evaluation; research, consultancy and extension, infrastructure and learning resources, student support and progression; governance leadership and management; and innovation and best practices.
“It is a moment of celebration for Andhra University. I hope it will soon secure number one rank in the country,” said the minister. The AU would get about Rs 100 crore under Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) besides Rs 130 crore released under various projects. A meeting to be chaired by the minister is scheduled to be held with representatives of all the AU affiliated colleges on February 28, to resolve problems being faced by these colleges.
AU in-charge vice-chancellor EA Narayana thanked all the faculty, non-faculty and students, especially former vice-chancellor GSN Raju for working tirelessly and ensuring improvement in the NAAC rating. Registrar V Uma Maheswara Rao and other authorities were present.
NAAC Suggestions
For quality enhancement of the university, the NAAC team has recommended filling up of 516 vacant faculty posts immediately; introduction of need-based and innovative programmes like travel, tourism and hospitality management, missile technology; training to faculty for better use of IT in teaching, learning and research; establishment of a finishing institute for better employability skills to students; strengthening of collaborations with national and international-level institutions; developing e-campus for using available intellectual resources; and also strengthening satellite campuses of the university with better infrastructure.
AU’s Strengths