NAAC team begins 3-day visit at KU; reviews academic programmes, research, student facilities

Posted by admin_kas on 2025-05-29 21:37:22 |

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Muhammad Adnan

Srinagar, May 29: A two-member Peer Team from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) arrived at the University of Kashmir (KU) on Thursday for a comprehensive three-day assessment visit aimed at reaccreditation of the varsity.

On the first day of their visit, the team conducted extensive deliberations on the academic programmes offered by the university, the student facilities in place, and the institutional mechanisms that support research and feedback systems.

A university official told Kashmir Square that the NAAC team commenced their visit with an introductory meeting with Vice Chancellor (VC) KU Prof. Nilofer Khan and the session was attended by Deans and Heads of Departments.

The official said the session featured a detailed PowerPoint presentation by the VC that provided an overview of the University’s academic landscape, infrastructural growth, admission processes, and IT services.

"A documentary showcasing the University's offerings and student-centric initiatives was also screened during the interaction," the official said.

He said the NAAC team members, including those connected virtually from the NAAC headquarters in Bangalore, engaged in discussions focusing on various aspects of academic and research activities, along with the examination and feedback systems.

"The team showed particular interest in the research ecosystem of the University and held discussions regarding various research projects. They also reviewed the student feedback mechanism," the official informed.

He said the emphasis was on the IT-driven, blind feedback system implemented by the Directorate of Internal Quality Assurance (DIQA), which allows students to assess the performance and teaching ability of faculty members, anonymously.

On the first day, Director DIQA also delivered a presentation on how the department aligns its operations with national ranking parameters, ensuring quality enhancement through data-driven initiatives.

Presentations from Deans of various faculties, Heads of Departments (HoDs) and Dean Academic Affairs further elaborated on departmental strengths and curricular reforms.

The day’s engagements also included a physical inspection of several academic departments, closely observed by the NAAC’s online team.

The visiting team further extended their inspection to the Institute of Technology (IoT) at Zakura and the University’s Botanical Garden.

The official said a detailed interaction was also held with the Dean Research to review the university's commitment to innovation and research.

Before concluding the day, the NAAC Peer Team convened second closed-door meeting to deliberate on the day’s findings.

This year, the logistical arrangements for the NAAC visit have been managed directly by the NAAC office rather than the University administration.

The NAAC, an autonomous body established following the recommendations of the National Policy on Education (1986), evaluates and accredits higher education institutions across India to ensure the delivery of quality education.

Kashmir University is currently accredited with an A+ grade from NAAC, with its previous assessment conducted in May 2019. The three-day visit will conclude on May 31, 2025.