Bhubaneswar, April 5: The Odisha government has announced to provide financial incentives to higher educational institutions (HEIs) for securing a National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) grade from the new academic session.
The Higher Education department has recently notified that a financial incentive program will be initiated to promote quality education in higher education institutions, both government and non-government aided colleges in the state.
Under it, the institutions can earn rewards in terms of cash incentives based on their NAAC score, starting from the 2024-25 academic session.
A college or university securing an ‘A++’ NAAC grade will receive Rs 15 lakh as incentive while those scoring ‘A+’ and ‘A’ grades can earn Rs 10 lakh and Rs 7.5 lakh respectively.
Similarly, institutions which secure a ‘B++’ will get Rs 6 lakh and the ones with ‘B+’, ‘B’ grades would be sanctioned Rs 5 lakh and Rs 4 lakh respectively. Institutions can use the financial aid to enhance learning experience, facilities, faculty development and student support services.
As per UGC’s Odisha analysis report of accreditation, among 1,047 degree and 110 PG colleges in Odisha, NAAC has so far accredited a meagre 86 colleges (both autonomous and general). Among 20 public universities including technical ones, currently, only Berhampur, Fakir Mohan, Ravenshaw, Utkal, Sambalpur and National Law universities have valid accreditation.
Grades of BPUT, Rama Devi and Shri Jagannath Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya have lapsed. The other universities are in different stages of applying for re-accreditation.
Meanwhile, UGC will implement a new accreditation process from May this year. Under the new format, there will be 10 criteria of evaluation now instead of the earlier seven.
