Chandigarh
31 March 2023
DIVYA AZAD
Chitkara University in Himachal Pradesh has received an A+ rating from the esteemed National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), placing it in the top 5% of Higher Education Institutions (HEI) in India to receive such a distinguished grade. With a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.42 on a 4-point scale, the university has earned this highly coveted recognition.
The University has been praised for its three major features by the Peer Team. They have infrastructure which is par excellent, and possess a green and eco-friendly campus. Government recognised incubation and vibrant startup ecosystem and technology transfer. Good harmony with all stakeholders-students, alumni, faculty, staff, management and community at large for education innovation and research.
On the occasion, Dr Ashok K Chitkara, Chancellor of Chitkara University said, “It is the hard-work by our students, staff and faculty for years that resulted in securing this recognition. Moreover, the university has a well-defined research promotion policy which has resulted in the development of state-of-the-art advanced facilities. Our CURIN facility offers multidisciplinary advanced facilities backed by research funding from variousGovernment agencies.
The University hosts a Global Week that enables students and faculty members to participate in exchange programs with foreign academic institutions. This has led to the establishment of dynamic collaborations through internationally funded research projects, international conferences, and cultural immersion experiences on campus. Through this best practice, a significant number of global experts (250) and students (25,000) have been positively impacted.
He further stated that by adopting sustainable measures on the campus Chitkara University has attained the status of Zero Discharge Campus from Quality Council of India.”
Pro Chancellor Dr Madhu Chitkara expressed her sincere thanks to all stakeholders and said,”The curricula are developed following standardised procedures and are revised at regular intervals based on feedback from all stakeholders.The local, regional, and global developmental needs regarding employability and entrepreneurship are considered while designing the course. We employ experimental, participative, and project-based learning techniques through blended learning modes. We have adopted a flexible CBCS system that allows students to pursue a multidisciplinary approach. Additionally, the assessment process is well-defined, evaluating critical thinking and problem-solving skills through program-specific learning outcomes.”
Established in 1994, NAAC is an autonomous body of UGC which assesses and accredits Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). NAAC has identified a set of seven criteria to serve as the basis of its assessment procedures: Curricular Aspects; Teaching-learning & Evaluation; Research, Innovations & Extension; Infrastructure & Learning Resources; Student Support & Progression; Governance, Leadership & Management; and Institutional Values & Best Practices.
Attending an institution that has been accredited by NAAC provides students with the opportunity to learn in a state-of-the-art environment and earn a degree that is recognised globally. Being an alumnus of a reputable institution provides instant recognition and offers greater job opportunities as industries tend to prefer hiring from higher-rated institutions. The NAAC accreditation process allows the university to identify its strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities through an informed review process. The higher the NAAC grade of the university, the greater the opportunities for intra and inter-institutional interactions.
Vice Chancellor Dr Varinder S Kanwar said, “Entrepreneurship development has been one of our focus areas, we have Startup Eco System wherein, we provide research scholars and faculties with seed money to support their research projects and patent applications. Chitkara University Himachal Pradesh has a successful record of creating some brilliant start-ups such as Chai Nagri, ROBO Champs, SD Academia and many more”. He further stated that Chitkara Alumni Association Network CAAN mission is to enable alumni, students, faculty and staff to maintain their contact with the University and each other for their shared benefit and for the vital support and development of Chitkara.”
Dr Shaily Jain, Associate Director IQAC, said “The university has been able to achieve this as a result of its dedicated and rigorous efforts in meeting the standards set by NAAC.We followed the parameters and guidelines provided by NAAC for compiling and submitting the Self-Study Report and other necessary documents. This attention to detail and commitment to meeting NAAC’s standards played a crucial role in the university’s success in achieving this ranking.”
