Central University of Punjab accomplished a new milestone by getting A+ grade from NAAC in its second cycle of assessment and accreditation
Bathinda : In a major achievement, the Central University of Punjab has been accredited with an A+ Grade by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council in its second cycle of assessment. The university achieved a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.3 points on of 4 point scale. CU Punjab has made significant progress in NAAC assessment this time by securing an A+ grade, having previously received an A grade from NAAC in its first cycle of assessment in 2016. In its short span of 14 years since its establishment in 2009, this is the first time that the university has been accredited with A+ grade (the second highest grade) by NAAC.
Notably, the Central University of Punjab has showcased improvement in the NIRF Ranking in the University Category over the last four years, going from the 95th rank in NIRF 2019 to the 81st rank in NIRF 2022, and with the improvement in the NAAC Grade from an A grade in the first cycle of assessment to an A+ grade in the second cycle of assessment, the university has testified that it is marching ahead on the path of excellence.
On Wednesday, the NAAC released Central University of Punjab’s grade, and the NAAC Final Report was delivered to the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, CU Punjab.
On this occasion, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor Prof. Raghavendra P. Tiwari expressed happiness on being accredited A+ grade by NAAC and congratulated the university family and the people of the state. It is a matter of immense pride for CU Punjab to receive A+ grade from NAAC. This milestone for the university reflects the sheer hard work and untiring effort by members of the university, including the teachers, officers, staff, students, alumni and parents. NAAC A+ accreditation will enable the Central University of Punjab to not only secure more funds from central agencies but also attract a large number of students from India and abroad to study at this much sought-after destination of learning.
Earlier, a five-member NAAC Peer Team visited the CU Punjab Campus from February 22–24, 2023. The NAAC made its assessment on the set of seven criteria under different key aspects based on the functioning and organizational focus. These criteria include Curricular Aspects; Teaching-learning and evaluation; Research, innovations and extension; Infrastructure and Learning resources; Student Support and Progression; Governance, Leadership and Management; Institutional Values and Best Practices
During the NAAC assessment period, the university has showcased growth in several research parameters, with an increase in total sanctioned Research Projects Grants from 22 Cr in 2016–17 to 72 Cr in 2021–22, an increase in the total number of publications in high impact journals from 513 in 2016 to 2567 in 2022, and an increase in the total number of citations from 606 in 2016 to 12560 in 2022. CU-Punjab currently has a Web of Science h-index of 67 and a Scopus h-index of 71. The university has attracted grants for improving its teaching-learning infrastructure and research facilities. The university has been credited for its excellent infrastructure for teaching, learning, and research and its eco-friendly, lush green campus.
To put things in perspective, an A+ equals rank 2 in the NAAC’s eight-grade rating. The NAAC, an autonomous body under the University Grants Commission (UGC), assesses and accredits institutes of higher education. The highest grade it awards is A++ followed by A+, A, B++, B+, B, C, and D.