Andhra University has been accredited with A++ grade by the National Assessment and Accreditation and Council (NAAC), Vice Chancellor Prof. PVGD Prasad Reddy said on Tuesday.
Speaking to the media in Visakhapatnam, Prof. Reddy said that the 98-year-old AU secured the highest CGPA score of 3.74, and emerged as one of the top three universities in the country to have such a score. In the university category, only three universities crossed 3.70 CGPA score.
Based on the framework ranking guidelines and assessments done by the NAAC team in their recent visit in the first week of this month, the AU received the A++ status and it will be sustained for seven years from the announcement of the rank, i.e. till November 8, 2030, Prof. Reddy added.
Institute of Emeritus status
He said that AU is now eligible for Institute of Emeritus status and can set up campuses in other countries under its brand name. The allocation of funds is very easy for AU now due to having such a rank.
The NAAC committee evaluated AU on several aspects. They included Curriculum, Teaching-Learning, Research, Student Support Programmes, Infrastructure, Governance-Leadership and Institutional Best Practices, he added.
Green chemistry
Prof. Reddy said that the NAAC team especially appreciated the green chemistry being taught to the engineering students.
“Massive infrastructural development has taken place at AU with the spirit of the Nadu-Nedu flagship programme of the State government. The university is grateful to Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy for his continuous support in every aspect to make this ranking possible during this 98th year,” Prof. Reddy said.
He said that during the university visit in 2019, Mr. Jagan had indicated the need for chair professors at AU, and now there are 16 chair professors in AU, which was appreciated by the NAAC team, he added.
“AU will now be able to celebrate its centenary year in the next two years with NAAC A++ ranking, and is the only public university in the country to tie up with the armed forces for distance education for armed personnel, who will benefit after retirement at a maximum age of 20 years,” he said.
