Two-Day Workshop on Assessment and Accreditation Roadmaps for Higher Education Institutions of Jharkhand Begins at CUJ
Ranchi: The Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), Central University of Jharkhand (CUJ), Ranchi, inaugurated a Two-Day Workshop on “Assessment and Accreditation Roadmaps for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) of Jharkhand” on Monday, 12 October 2026. The workshop aims to strengthen quality assurance practices and enhance accreditation preparedness among higher education institutions across Jharkhand.
It seeks to promote peer learning, institutional mentoring and the exchange of experiences among universities and other HEIs, while addressing the challenges associated with assessment, accreditation and quality enhancement. The workshop also aims to share CUJ’s experiences, institutional practices and strategies that contributed to achieving NAAC A+ accreditation, providing valuable insights for other HEIs in their pursuit of institutional quality enhancement and accreditation.
The workshop brought together more than 40 participants representing 20 higher education institutions across Jharkhand, including Registrars, IQAC Directors, faculty members and academic and administrative officials.
The participating institutions included Ranchi University; Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University; Jharkhand State Open University; Birsa Agricultural University; Jharkhand University of Technology, Ranchi; National University of Study and Research in Law (NUSRL); Jharkhand Raksha Shakti University (JRSU); Vinoba Bhave University; Kolhan University; Sido Kanhu Murmu University; Nilamber Pitamber University; Jamshedpur Women’s University; National Institute of Advanced Manufacturing Technology (NIAMT), Ranchi; BIT Sindri; Birla Institute of Technology (BIT), Mesra; Xavier School of Management (XLRI); Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS); Sarala Birla University; Amity University; and Usha Martin University. The participation of these institutions reflected the workshop’s broad institutional reach and provided a platform for inter-institutional collaboration, peer learning and the exchange of best practices in quality assurance and accreditation.
The inaugural session began with a welcome by the CUJ IQAC team, followed by a prayer and ceremonial lamp lighting. Shri K. Kosala Rao, Registrar, CUJ, introduced the dignitaries, who were felicitated by the host institution. Prof. Tapan Kumar Basantia, Director, IQAC, CUJ, outlined the workshop’s context and objectives, emphasising stronger internal quality assurance mechanisms and readiness for evolving assessment and accreditation requirements. He also highlighted institutional performance in national and international ranking frameworks, including NIRF, QS and Shanghai rankings, with particular emphasis on research, publications and collaboration.
Prof. Kunja Bihari Panda, Advisor, IQAC, CUJ, shared his NAAC accreditation experience and discussed higher education’s role in social mobility, economic growth, research and innovation. He also highlighted Jharkhand’s development potential, particularly its natural resources and diversity. Prof. Manoj Kumar, Dean, Academic Affairs, CUJ, emphasised evidence-based documentation, stakeholder coordination, systematic preparation of the Self-Study Report (SSR), regular review meetings and continuous quality assurance.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. Rajiv Manohar, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University, Ranchi, congratulated CUJ on the initiative to strengthen higher education in Jharkhand. He stressed that quality assurance should be continuous and integral to higher education and highlighted collaboration among institutions to raise educational standards. Referring to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and evolving approaches to quality assessment, he called for a proactive, long-term approach to accreditation as a means of institutional improvement and accountability rather than merely a procedural requirement.
In his presidential address, Prof. Sarang Medhekar, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, CUJ, emphasised fostering a strong quality culture and aligning academic and administrative practices with evolving benchmarks. He highlighted universities’ responsibility towards Jharkhand’s development through mentoring, experience-sharing and a research-oriented ecosystem. He also stressed the importance of strengthening institutional mechanisms, including the Annual Quality Assurance Report (AQAR) and SSR preparation, to promote academic excellence and improve accreditation preparedness. The inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Bhaskar Singh, Member, IQAC, CUJ, followed by the National Anthem.
The first day also featured technical sessions on assessment, accreditation and institutional quality assurance. Prof. Rajiv Manohar served as a resource person for the session on “Role of IQAC in Ranking and Accreditation.” He discussed effective IQAC functioning, student feedback analysis, coordination among departments and stakeholder participation. He emphasised research and innovation at universities and stronger teaching-learning processes in colleges, alongside academic networking, communication, alumni engagement and collaborative research.
He stressed that NAAC grades and rankings should not be pursued as ends in themselves; rather, institutions should use assessment to adopt best practices and support continuous improvement. Teamwork and decentralisation were also highlighted as important to quality assurance. Prof. Ratan Kumar Dey, Advisor, IQAC, CUJ, spoke on “Achieving Academic Excellence in Higher Education Institutions: An Overview.” He emphasised that quality assurance should extend beyond quantitative data to include qualitative analysis by academicians.
He highlighted trust-based leadership, well-designed systems, sustainable practices and transparency, as well as the use of different institutional models and a tabular matrix of NAAC, NIRF and NAAC binary accreditation frameworks in the context of NEP 2020 and holistic university development. Dr. Goverdhan Reddy Turpu, Associate Professor, Department of Pure and Applied Physics, Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, addressed “Ranking and Accreditation of HEIs: Frameworks, Processes and Best Practices.”
He discussed key ranking and accreditation frameworks and processes, stressing the importance of understanding assessment criteria, maintaining appropriate documentation and adopting best practices to improve institutional preparedness. Prof. Gajendra Prasad Singh, NAAC Team Member, CUJ, spoke on “Preparation for NAAC Assessment with Special Reference to Teaching-Learning and Research.” He highlighted the importance of strengthening teaching-learning practices and research as key dimensions of institutional quality, alongside systematic preparation, appropriate documentation and evidence of academic performance.
The first day of the workshop successfully laid a strong foundation for further academic deliberations and institutional interaction. The workshop will continue on 13 October 2026 with additional technical sessions, interactive discussions on the quality parameters of higher education institutions, a site visit to Central University of Jharkhand and the valedictory session. These activities are expected to deepen participants’ understanding of assessment and accreditation processes and support their efforts to develop effective roadmaps for institutional quality enhancement.
