In the corridors of academic campuses and during closed-door discussions, a troubling trend has emerged: conversations about the National Board of Accreditation (NBA), National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), and National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) often revolve around the possibility of backdoor entries. Questions like "Can we manipulate data?", "Can we manage the assessment team?", and "Can we influence government officials?" are all too common. Many institutions seek shortcuts to boost their scores without presenting convincing proof to the experts.
The credibility of these rankings is further undermined by the fact that much of the data in NIRF is not cross-verified by any relevant or solid proofs, raising serious doubts about whether the rankings truly reflect the quality of a university or college.
This issue isn't limited to NIRF; it extends to other prominent global rankings like QS and THE. When an NBA team enters a campus, discussions among senior management often centre on whether the peer team can be bought off or if they can help the institution achieve a better score.
External consultants, who sometimes have a nexus with government officials, are hired with promises of securing good scores in NAAC and NBA.
This is the dark side of NBA, NAAC, and NIRF that needs urgent attention from all stakeholders in the education industry.
The Impact on Indian Higher Education
These practices and assumptions degrade the true purpose of academia in India. But why do these discussions arise in the first place? Why do they assume that all government agencies are corrupt? The answer lies in the malpractices of a few individuals operating within these agencies, which tarnish the organization’s image. Additionally, there are many universities and colleges that have been awarded A++ ratings, even though, if you examine the ground reality, they don’t truly deserve it.
This is misleading for students and parents who trust these agencies when making important decisions about admissions.
And then we all keep complaining that our students are preferring to study abroad instead of attending Indian universities. How are they supposed to trust the Indian education system when these underlying cracks exist? With such systemic issues in our higher education system, how are industries going to hire graduates from these campuses? And how will academic quality improve? Sometimes, we resemble the ostrich, believing that everything is great in our education system, when in reality, there are serious issues that need to be addressed.
Can we trust UGC and AICTE officials who come to campuses to provide approvals for starting colleges? If there is extreme transparency, as suggested by the government, why are there discrepancies in infrastructure and facilities, even though they are approved by the same agencies? Corruption is an underlying challenge not just in education but in every domain and every country. However, corruption in education demands severe and strong action by all decision-makers within the academic fraternity.
Corruption in education demands severe and strong action by all decision-makers within the academic fraternity.
Pathways to Reform: Eradicating Malpractices
The time has come to take decisive action to reform the accreditation and ranking processes in Indian higher education.
The following steps could help eradicate the malpractices that currently plague NAAC, NBA, and NIRF:
Strengthening Verification Protocols: One of the fundamental issues is the lack of robust data verification processes. All data submitted by institutions should be subject to rigorous, independent verification. This could involve a third-party auditing system where external auditors cross-check the data against actual ground realities.
Increased Transparency and Public Disclosure: Transparency is key to restoring trust in the accreditation process. All assessment processes, methodologies, and data used in rankings should be made publicly available. Institutions should be required to disclose all relevant documents and evidence used in the assessment process, allowing for public scrutiny.
Rotation of Assessment Teams: To prevent any undue influence or the formation of nexuses, the teams responsible for conducting assessments should be rotated regularly. This would reduce the chances of any long-term relationships developing between institutions and assessors, ensuring a more objective evaluation process.
Stricter Penalties for Malpractice: Institutions and individuals found guilty of attempting to manipulate the accreditation process should face severe penalties. This could include revocation of accreditation, fines, and legal action. Additionally, any government officials or external consultants involved in such practices should face stringent disciplinary action.
Enhanced Training for Assessors: The assessors themselves should be given extensive training to ensure they understand the importance of integrity and transparency in the evaluation process. Regular workshops and refresher courses could help reinforce these values.
Establishing an Independent Oversight Body: An independent body should be established to oversee the entire accreditation and ranking process. This body should have the authority to investigate allegations of malpractice, audit assessments, and recommend reforms.
Incentivizing Honest Practices: Institutions that demonstrate integrity and transparency in their practices should be incentivized through recognition, awards, and additional funding opportunities. This would encourage others to follow suit and adhere to the highest standards.
The challenges facing the Indian higher education system are significant, but not insurmountable. By addressing the underlying issues within the accreditation and ranking processes, we can begin to restore trust and ensure that our institutions truly reflect the quality they claim to represent. The time has come to ensure complete transparency in the system, punish those who are guilty with stringent laws, and take strong actions against institutions that encourage such practices.
It's imperative to restore trust in these accreditation processes, safeguard the interests of students and parents alike, and ultimately improve the academic quality of Indian universities and colleges.
Only then can we hope to retain our brightest minds, ensure that our graduates are highly regarded by industries, and restore the integrity of the Indian education system.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency or institution. The information provided is based on personal experiences and observations, and while every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the author assumes no responsibility for any errors or omissions. This article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal or professional advice. Any action taken based on the information provided in this article is at the reader's own risk.
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