NAAC Full Form – National Assessment and Accreditation Council

NAAC Full Form: If you are a college student then at least somewhere you must have heard the term NAAC but have you ever wondered what it stands for, or what it actually is? Read along to find out.

NAAC is responsible for maintaining the academic quality of institutions for higher education in India. NAAC not only helps institutions identify their strengths or weaknesses but also makes sure that transparency is maintained in the education system.

This blog will cover all the details about NAAC Full Form, its meaning, accreditation process, why it is important for students and everything you need to know about the NAAC.

NAAC Full Form

NAAC stands for National Assessment and Accreditation Council. It is a body responsible for keeping a check on institutions for higher education,
Colleges and universities to ensure that all of them are providing good quality education and excellence in academic learning to the students.

NAAC basically assesses the institutes based on multiple factors such as the curriculum offered, teaching staff, infrastructure, support by students and many other factors.

The main goal of NAAC is to ensure that the quality of education is not compromised and the best part about the National Assessment Accreditation Council is that it is recognised as a mark of excellence both in India and outside of India.

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What is the National Assessment Accreditation Council?

National Assessment Accreditation Council which is most commonly known as NAAC by the people, is a body that manages, assesses and evaluates the functioning of higher education institutions, universities and colleges across India. NAAC was established in the year 1994 by the University Grant Commission (UGC) of India. The headquarters of the NAAC is in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.

The main role of NAAC is to assess the colleges, universities and higher education institutions and give them a rating or score on the basis of which they are given a rank with all the other colleges or institutions of the country. This helps students and other people to get an idea about that particular institution before taking an admission into it.

Along with helping students decide which is the better college or university, NAAC is also developing a culture of constant improvement and it also motivates the universities or the institutions to work better and harder.

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What are the Objectives of NAAC?

The purpose of the National Assessment Accreditation Council is not just to inspect colleges and institutions but also to promote high-quality education and excellence in the area of higher education in India.

The objectives of NAAC are to make a strong education system and motivate institutions to work hard for their improvement. By keeping a check on the curriculum NAAC ensures that there are regular updates and modifications in the syllabus, teaching pattern and the curriculum to stay updated and provide the best possible education to the students.

NAAC is continuously working hard for the betterment and improvement of the education system in India. The main objective of NAAC is to promote good quality education and provide the best to the students.

Some of the key objectives of the National Assessment Accreditation Council are mentioned below:

• NAAC focuses to provide guarantee of quality in higher education
• It encourages institutions to adopt the self-evaluation methods and strategies.
• It also focuses on developing high quality practices
• It acts as a trustable and reliable body for students to evaluate and take decisions at the time of admission.

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Accreditation Process of NAAC

The accreditation process of NAAC is not very complicated, but involves multiple stages or steps. This blog will take you through all the stages of the accreditation process of the National Assessment Accreditation Council and help you understand each step deeply and easily.

Step 1: Institutional Eligibility
The first and the most basic step in the accreditation process of NAAC is that the Institution must be recognised by the UGC (University Grant Commission) and is 6 years or older, that is the university must have completed at least 6 years of its existence.

Step 2: Registration and Application
All the colleges and universities (willing to get NAAC accreditation) are required to submit the Institutional Information for Quality Assessment (IIQA) and Self Study Report (SSR) through the NAAC portal to further continue the process.

Step 3: Data Validation and Verification (DVV)
After the universities submit their data, NAAC receives it, checks it and performs a verification check by using third-party applications and experts. This is done to ensure that the data shared is original without any false information.

Step 4: Team Visit
A team of academic experts visit the institution to cross-check and verify the data which was shared and also to interact with the faculty and have a look at the environment of the educational institute.

Step 5: Final Accreditation
The last step in the process of accreditation is based on the evaluation which NAAC does. NAAC actually assigns a grade and score to the institutions based on the quality checks, verification and evaluation conducted. This score or grade tells about the quality-status of the institution.

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Grading System of NAAC

NAAC gives the grades or scores to the institutions on the basis of a 4-point scale, but the final outcome is shown in the form of letters like A,B,C,D. The below table will help you clearly understand how the grading system of NAAC works. The institutes with grade D are not considered as accredited by NAAC and are not considered up to the mark.

How to check NAAC Accreditation of a college?

If you want to check the accreditation status by NAAC of any college, you can simply follow the below four steps:

• Visit the official website of NAAC
• Go to Accredited Institutions
• Search by name, state or university
• Check accreditation cycle, grade, validity etc.

Why is the NAAC Accreditation important?

NAAC holds great value not only in India but also internationally. The NAAC grade acts like an official stamp that your institution qualifies the quality check and is capable of providing good quality education to the students.

Along with this, it also ensures that the institution, university or the college is open to improvement and is willing to make changes required for the betterment of the education system in India. The grades given by NAAC to the institutions can mold students’ decision on taking admissions, funding choices and even international tie-ups.

The reason for the importance of NAAC can be different for students, institutions and recruiters and employers but it is sure that the National Assessment Accreditation Council has a great impact on everyone.

Let us discuss the importance of NAAC for students, institutions and Recruiters and Employers one by one.

For Students

NAAC gives assurance to the students that the university is up to the mark and provides good education and also meets the national and international quality standards in terms of education.

It is also important for students because a student pursuing any degree from a good NAAC graded institution has better chances of getting an internship or job opportunities. It also enhances the value of your degree, for example a college with A++ grade by NAAC holds greater value as compared to other colleges.

For Institutions

NAAC is important for institutions because it helps them to identify their strengths, weaknesses and opportunities for growth and development. It motivates the institutions (by giving grades) to perform better.

It also plays an important role in image building. A college or university graded highly by NAAC has more value and reputation as students, faculty, and everyone prefer well-accredited colleges.

For Recruiters & Employers

Recruiters and employers use NAAC gradings to assure that the candidates or the students come from a well accredited and reputed college.

This helps the recruiters and employers because it is trusted that a college with high NAAC grading has good academic culture, better curriculum and teaching practices, all of which makes students academically strong and job-ready.

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Some Facts and Information about NAAC

Apart from what NAAC does, let us have a look at some of the facts and important information about NAAC which you might not know yet.

NAAC Full Form FAQs

Is it compulsory to get the accreditation by NAAC?

Getting the NAAC accreditation is not legally compulsory but it is highly recommended because NAAC grading helps in UGC funding, student’s trust and many other factors.

What is the highest grade in NAAC grading?

The highest grade by NAAC is A++, which indicates the CGPA between 3.76 to 4.00.

How long does the NAAC accreditation remain valid?

The NAAC accreditation is valid for up to 5 years.

Can a newly established college/institution apply for NAAC?

No, a college/institution must have at least 6 years of existence or it must have graduated at least two batches of students to be eligible for NAAC.