Pune: National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) is shifting from input-based to outcome-based assessment, with 60% of its evaluation metrics focusing on outcomes such as student achievement and teaching effectiveness rather than physical infrastructure.Highlighting the need for reforms, NAAC executive committee chairperson Nageshwar Rao on Friday said only 16% of colleges and 40% of universities across the country were accredited even after 31 years of the council’s existence. “The primary task assigned to NAAC is to expand reach while enhancing quality. Of the nearly 50,000 colleges in India, only 8,000 to 9,000 are accredited, while only around 500 of the country’s 1,400 universities have been graded,” said Rao, who was the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the APQN academic conference and annual general meeting (AGM) 2026 at Symbiosis International.The conference, themed “Reimagining Quality Assurance in a Rapidly Changing Higher Education Landscape,” was jointly organised by Symbiosis International University and the Asia-Pacific Quality Network (APQN). Higher and technical education minister Chandrakant Patil was the chief guest, while Rao was the guest of honour.Rao spoke about reforms in the accreditation process accepted by a govt-appointed high-power committee in 2024. “Under this new framework, there will be a simple, fast, and binary accreditation. The second category is a maturity-based level system. The basic accreditation process is being simplified around a ‘One Nation, One Data’ approach based primarily on trust with minimal verification queries. Public feedback will also be gathered to refine evaluation instruments,” said Rao.Rao also warned against attending unnecessary workshops or relying on external agencies to get accreditation, stating that authentic information should be accessed directly from the official NAAC website. “Under the new approach, an existing A++ institution will align with Level 5, but it must justify that level. NAAC will verify whether the Level 5 benchmark is met; existing A++ institutions could move to lower levels, or even B+ institutions could reach Level 5 depending on the set parameters. The process operates transparently like an examination system where levels are clearly defined. Institutions must evaluate historical data and align with future national requirements, including governance frameworks, credit transfers, and multiple entry/exit options,” said Rao.Rao further said that the accreditation process is shifting from 60% input-based metrics to 60% outcome-based metrics. “Evaluation will no longer focus on physical inputs like room size or fleet numbers, but rather on actual outcomes, such as student achievements and teaching results. This focus on outcomes builds trust in educational reforms. These thoughts reflect personal insights on adapting to future expectations and solutions in higher education,” said Rao.S B Mujumdar, founder and president, Symbiosis, Galina Motova, president, APQN, Vidya Yeravdekar, chancellor, Symbiosis International University, and Ramakrishnan Raman, vice-chancellor, Symbiosis International University, were the other dignitaries present at the conference attended by delegates from over 20 countries.
