The Kerala State Higher Education Council (KSHEC) will organise a conference on Thursday to finalise the framework of the proposed State Assessment and Accreditation Council (SAAC).
Higher Education Minister K.T. Jaleel will inaugurate the meeting that will be chaired by council vice-chairman Rajan Gurukkal. Kerala State Planning Board vice-chairman V.K. Ramachandran will deliver the keynote address. Board member B. Ekbal, Vice-Chancellors, council governing board members, college principals, and representatives of teachers’ organisations will also take part in the meeting. Dr. Jaleel will formally launch the digital portal of SAAC on the occasion.
Weightage
Besides imbibing various aspects of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), SAAC will also provide weightage for social inclusiveness, equity and excellence, scientific temper, and secular outlook among its criteria.
Besides, outcome-based education will also be taken into consideration while assessing higher education institutions.
The council has proposed a “multi-level, integrated approach” in assessing institutions.
Steps to be taken
The process will be undertaken under various steps, viz., Equi NAAC score and grade, in which the assessment will be entirely in line with the NAAC criteria and on a 1000-point scale; SAAC Alone score and grade, which will involve an evaluation based on State-specific core values and on a 300-point scale; and Equi NAAC-SAAC Combo score and grade, wherein a final score would be determined by considering both the Equi NAAC and SAAC Alone scores.
Ranking
Besides, institutions will be ranked on the basis of their final NAAC-SAAC Combo scores to determine their positions in the proposed State Institutional Ranking Framework, which is modelled on the National Institute Ranking Framework.
