NAAC to Launch AI‑Based Accreditation, Online Checks in August

• NAAC to replace physical inspections with AI-led document checks.
• New framework aims to accredit over 90% of institutions in 5 years.
• System includes credibility scoring via crowdsourced expert reviews.

The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) is set to introduce a new accreditation system in August for colleges and universities, substituting in-person inspections with AI-based evaluations and online document checks.

The NAAC intends to accredit more than 90 percent of higher education institutions nationwide in the next five years using the new framework, stated NAAC Chairman, Prof Anil Sahasrabudhe, during a conversation with ANI.

The framework will include a fundamental accreditation system and a more sophisticated maturity-based graded-level accreditation. The updated system will take the place of the current eight-point grading framework.

"The earlier model had nearly 90 parameters, 70 per cent of which were verified through document-based evidence and 30 per cent through peer team visits. But peer visits led to complications and integrity concerns. That's why, in the new system, there will be no physical visits for basic accreditation. Instead, the process will rely on verified documents," he said.

The reform initiatives are grounded in suggestions provided by a committee headed by former ISRO chief K Radhakrishnan, established by the Education Ministry in November 2022 to revamp the accreditation system.  Currently, approximately 40 percent of universities and 18 percent of colleges in India are accredited.

The NAAC, an independent organization that evaluates and accredits higher education institutions (HEIs), intends to encompass most higher education institutions and tackle concerns regarding integrity through the new system.

A major advancement in the new model is the implementation of artificial intelligence that removes the necessity for peer review visits, opting instead for crowdsourced validation from a diverse range of stakeholders.

The fundamental system will categorize institutions as either "accredited" or "not accredited." Institutions will be evaluated based on 55 criteria for universities, 50 for autonomous colleges, and 40 for affiliated colleges. Individuals scoring beneath the cutoff—50 percent for universities, 45 percent for independent colleges, and 40 percent for affiliated institutions—will not receive accreditation.

Describing the new methodology, the NAAC Chairman mentioned that the system will employ machine learning to analyze institutional data and validate it using a randomly chosen panel selected from an extensive database of stakeholders, which includes faculty members, former vice-chancellors, industry professionals, NGOs, and administrative staff. machine learning, National Education Policy (NEP).

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"Based on the documents submitted by institutions and their claims, a set of questions will be generated and randomly sent to about 100 people from the stakeholder pool. These experts will assess the authenticity of the data. Their inputs will help us calculate a credibility score for the institution on a scale from 0 to 1," the Chairman said.

Organizations will begin with a standard credibility score of 0.5. The score will increase if the experts confirm the submitted documents, or decrease if discrepancies or fakes are found.

The trustworthiness of the assessors will also be evaluated using AI. The updated system incorporates essential aspects of the National Education Policy (NEP), including innovation support, multilingualism, multiple entry-exit options, sustainability, and internationalization. International universities establishing campuses in India will also be entitled to apply under this framework.