It is a new group of anti hopes, grade in academia. And it does not frightened students to the test. City colleges are now completing the evaluation forms client with the National Council for evaluation and accreditation (NAAC), Bangalore-based independent establishment of scholarships at the University of the Commission (UGC) in the grade institutions of higher education.

Three colleges in the city were under control last week with a team of NAAC invited to the pulpit spree Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), Vile Parle, St. Xavier’s College, Fort, and Ruia College, Matunga. Two higher education institutions - Vaze College, Mulund and Vithaldas College of Home Science, Santa Cruz - have already NAAC sorting last December, the first for accreditation in Maharashtra.

During the NAAC was founded in 1994, the need for security of accreditation seems to have caught on before now. The reason: a good evaluation NAAC is the ultimate symbol of excellence. “Fr Joe How Dias, principalof St. Xavier’s College, said: “ People want to know quality, … and our assessment, this approach was of globalization.”

But NAAC accreditation - Curriculum based on analysis, research and consultancy, infrastructure and support students, inter alia, within an institution - goes far beyond Self-Assessment. Soon, all grants from the UGC will probably be significant based on a classification. It is also the cornerstone of tie-ups with sectors such as foreign universities.

NMIMS RD Chancellor Shetty said: “ We have been in the top 10 in a magazine survey a few years ago, but we intend to reach higher. NAAC tells you where you are, if lacking something.”No wonder then that the management of 627 establishments in the country, NMIMS was one of the first to seek accreditation.

NAAC assessment highlights gaps in an institution as well, said Dr. RT Sane, Ruia College important. “ Each college has decided to present a study reportbefore Self-NAAC teams of the visit. That is why a detailed questionnaire on the functioning of the college allowed to respond,”he said. During the study of the individual colleges of determining areas where they lack, such as infrastructure or the teacher-student report. Shetty said: “ We realized that our budget for the library was not enough, so we’ve almost doubled. We also recruited more members of the faculty.”

Another advantage is the probability increases the opportunity for students to foreign universities. NAAC itself has signed an agreement with the Quality Assessment Agency for Higher Education in the United Kingdom, as well as an international forum for the evaluation and authorisation of universities, says Dr. MR Kurup, Vaze College principal . “ If a student an accredited institution, it is worth more, if he / she goes abroad”, he adds. Even on the labour market of students in higher education are accredited to a better chance.

An incentive is the possibility of saving more UGCfunds. , Says Dr. Sane: “ In a recent workshop held in Bangalore, NAAC officials have indicated that accreditation should be mandatory (currently it is quite on a voluntary basis).”Furthur, in the 10th UGC plan , Subsidies should be paid after the NAAC assessment of an institution, says Kurup.

Furthermore, the teaching fraternity seems to have learned the lessons of their best of accreditation. , Says Dr. Sane: “ The teachers know that the classification is commensurate with their education programmes, including research. Although provisions exist, many teachers are not entitled to grants from the UGC for research. Now they have an image of possibilities.”