Now, colleges need the grades

UGC asks DU colleges to grade themselves for financial grant. Higher the grade, more the money

Delhi University (DU) is upgrading itself and here comes the latest salvo. Under an initiative of the University Grants Commission (UGC), the varsity will now grade the colleges affiliated to it for financial aid.

In a letter written to Delhi University, the UGC has asked the university to identify colleges affiliated to it that can be granted the status of "potential for excellence". Under the proposed scheme, the colleges need to assess themselves, prepare a report and then submit it to the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). On the basis of this assessment, colleges will be graded for financial assistance. The academic council meeting scheduled for November 9 will discuss this proposal.

Under the initiative, if a college with the "potential for excellence" status is autonomous and has an accreditation by NAAC, it will be given a one-time grant by UGC of Rs 1 crore. However, if it is not autonomous, the grant will be Rs 65 lakh. In case a college does not have NAAC accreditation and autonomy, it will only get Rs 35 lakh.

Till now, it is not mandatory to get accreditation from NAAC, however, according to sources UGC may make it compulsory in the days to come. "UGC has constituted an expert committee to look into the possibility of making NAAC accreditation compulsory for all colleges and universities. A framework is being prepared for the process," said a senior UGC official, wishing anonymity.

NAAC grades colleges on various parameters. "The performance of a college is judged on various issues such as academic improvement, strengthening of laboratories, improvement of the library and the examination system among others," said Dhani Ram, a member of the academic council.

However, Ram felt the grading system may increase disparity between colleges. "Reputed colleges will be graded A or A+ and get bigger financial help. But if we look from a broader prospective, it will only make the going tougher for the colleges that are not so well-known. They will be left out of the grant package. The university must think of all points before deciding," he said.

The UGC has also proposed that universities should launch internal quality assurance cells. This too will be discussed at the academic council meet.

DU gets better
>>Delhi University may introduce semester system from the next academic session, 2010-11.
>>DU became one of the first central universities in India to conduct an online examination for its undergraduate Science students. It also planning to conduct a Common Aptitude Test for English for English Honours course online from next academic year.
>>The Ministry of Human Resource Development has given a pilot project to
DU, which may make it the national centre for e-content development.

Know NAAC
NAAC is an autonomous body established by the University Grants Commission of India in 1994 to assess and accredit institutions of higher education in the country.