Bhubaneswar, Odisha: The Odisha Higher Education Department has stepped up efforts to address the non-renewal of NAAC accreditation by seven state universities. The department has directed the concerned institutions to complete the accreditation renewal process at the earliest.

An official communication has been sent to all seven universities, assuring them of the state government's support throughout the renewal process. The department is also in touch with the University Grants Commission (UGC) to facilitate the process.

The universities on the list include Odia University, Maa Manikeshwari University, Vikram Dev University, Rajendra University, Dharanidhar University, Madhusudan Law University and Shri Jagannath Sanskrit University.

Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said that the universities which have not renewed their NAAC accreditation have been asked to do so immediately. He added that the government is extending the necessary assistance and is coordinating with the UGC.

The minister also highlighted several steps being taken to strengthen higher education in the state. According to him, the appointment process for Vice-Chancellors in state universities has been completed.

Interviews are currently underway to fill more than 1,400 vacant posts of professors, associate professors and assistant professors. The process is expected to be completed within the next two months.

The interview process at Odisha State Open University has also been completed. Meanwhile, efforts are underway to improve the state's performance in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) and other ranking systems.

NAAC accreditation is an important indicator of an institution's academic quality and overall performance. The assessment considers several parameters, including teaching and learning, research, infrastructure and institutional governance.

A good NAAC grade can help universities strengthen their credibility and improve their prospects of receiving grants and financial support from the UGC and the Central Government. It also helps students make informed decisions while choosing higher education institutions.

Under the grading system described in the report, institutions are assessed on a 4-point CGPA scale, with grades ranging from A++ to D. The accreditation grade is generally valid for five years, after which institutions need to undergo reassessment.

The government's latest move is aimed at ensuring that Odisha's universities maintain accreditation standards and improve their academic performance and national rankings.