New Delhi: India's leading institutes, including Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and the Indian Institute of Science (IIS) would be accredited and rated according to their areas of strength. Along with the institutions, each department in the institutions will also be ranked, making it convenient for a student to opt for a right career.
National Authority for Regulation in Accreditation of Higher Educational Institutions Bill 2009 will accredit and rate all higher educational institutions in India, including distance education systems. Kapil Sibal, HRD Minister, said that the Bill was necessary, to ensure quality across institutions and crack down upon fake and sub-standard institutions and universities.
As per sources, rating will be done by agencies that will be created under legislation, being drafted by the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry. The Bill makes it mandatory for every higher educational institute and every programme of study to be accredited. Central and state universities, deemed universities, colleges and even polytechnics will be covered by the rating agencies.
According to this, every institution will have to satisfy minimum conditions in terms of infrastructure, teacher-pupil ratio, learning and research, curriculum, assessment procedures, faculty strength and teaching outcomes. The Bill also states that only an eminent academician, with at least 20 years of experience, can hold the post of chairperson of the Authority.
In accordance with the draft legislation, the National Authority will develop and regulate the process of accreditation, which will take place through multiple rating agencies. As per the statement made by senior HRD Ministry official, since the number of institutions to be covered is huge, one agency cannot cope with the load. Therefore, multiple agencies, which are registered with the National Authority, will be authorized to carry out accreditation. The National Authority will in turn accredit and keep a check on the rating agencies.
