Assessment and Accreditation of ODL Institutions Frequently Asked Questions 1. What is Accreditation?

Accreditation is the grading accorded to an institution that meets standards, or satisfies criteria laid down by the DEC. Accreditation provides: Assurance to the public, in particular to prospective learners, that an institution has been found to meet the expected level of requirements and criteria prescribed by the DEC Certification of acceptable institutional quality. An opportunity to the institution for critical self-analysis and review, leading to qualitative improvement in its operations and offerings. 2. Why accreditation? While assessing and accrediting an ODL institution, the DEC will be determining whether the institution has developed mechanisms for quality assurance in its operations and services, or not. The institution would be rated/ranked depending upon its level of achievement. 3. How can my institution get accredited? Your institution can be accredited after you submit a formal request in the form of Letter of Intent alongwith necessary information about your institution and application fee to the DEC. On receipt of the same, the NAAB at the DEC will make an in-house analysis of the application. The NAAB on its discretion may constitute a Screening Committee for this purpose. If your institution is found eligible, then a peer team will visit your institution and final decision will be taken by the DEC. 4. Who is eligible for accreditation?

Your institution can be accredit if it satisfies the following criteria: If your institution offers education through distance mode and are approved by the Distance Education Council and have been operational for a minimum period of three years or have at least two batches of students completing a terminal examination, you are eligible for accreditation, namely: National/State Open Universities DEIs in conventional universities established by an Act of Parliament or State Legislature, Deemed To Be Universities declared by the Central Government under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, and Institutions of National Importance declared by an Act of Parliament. Other ODL institutions of higher learning, including private providers which are recognised by the DEC. The institutions that are eligible for accreditation and have received the DEC grants must apply within three years from the date of implementation of this scheme or receipt of last grant, whichever is later.

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Which is the accrediting body for ODL institutions? The Distance Education Council is the accrediting body for the ODL institutions.

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Why is DEC the accrediting body for ODL institutions? As per the Gazette notification No 44 F No. 18-15/93-TD. V/TS.IV On the recommendations of the Board of Assessment for Education qualifications, the Govt of India has decided that all the qualifications awarded through Distance Education by the Universities established by an Act of Parliament or State legislature, institutions deemed to be Universities under Section 3 of UGC Act, 1956 and Institutions of National importance declared under an act of Parliament stand automatically recognised for the purpose of employment to posts and services under the Central Government, provided it has been by the Distance Education, Indira Gandhi 2

National Open University... Further, it is the mission of the DEC to promote, coordinate and maintain the standards and quality of Open and Distance Education system in the country. Keeping in mind the concern for quality, the DEC has taken the initiative and entered into a dialogue with ODL institutions to devise means for institutional assessment and accreditation. Following this, the DEC has developed a Handbook on Assessment and Accreditation of Open and Distance Learning Institutions. 8. What is the mechanism of accreditation? For the assessment of an institution as a unit that is eligible to be assessed, the DEC would follow a six-stage process, which is a combination of self-assessment and review. The six stages are: I. Submission of Application & Letter of Intent: Any institution offering programmes through the ODL and falling in the categories mentioned above may submit its Letter of Intent (LOI) and Part I of the Self Appraisal Portfolio (SAP), alongwith the accreditation fee as prescribed to the DEC. The formats are placed at the end of the Handbook (4.2: Letter of Intent; and 4.3: the SAP). II. Readiness Assessment: Screening of the SAP (Part I) by a National Assessment & Accreditation Board (NAAB) set up by the DEC to decide on the Readiness for Assessment. Once an institution is declared Ready by the DEC, the applicant institution will be communicated acceptance of application. III. Preparation and Submission of SAP: The intending institution must prepare the Self Appraisal Portfolio (SAP Parts I, II &III) using the format/guidelines given in the DEC Handbook on Assessment & Accreditation of ODL Institutions. The SAP aims at providing an opportunity for the institution/Programme Head to measure its effectiveness and efficiency and to identify areas of its strengths and weaknesses as a provider of distance education. Along with the SAP, the institution will also submit a full set

of its course material for review by a team of subject experts constituted by the DEC. IV. Peer Team Visit: Based on the completeness of the SAP submitted, the DEC will organise the peer team visit. The eligible institution will be visited by the peer team constituted by the DEC, depending on the size of the institution and the programmes on offer. The peer team will be constituted with experts from the areas of programmes offered by the institution. The peer team may be headed by superannuated or working Vice-Chancellor/Pro ViceChancellor of a University /Director of an ODL institution. It may also include an expert from the industry as an observer. The peer team should include 5-6 members (including experts from OUs and DEIs) depending on the profile of the institution. The visit will be coordinated by a DEC representative. The site visit may vary from three to four days. The on-site visit will result in a focused Peer Team Report (PTR), denoting the strengths and areas of concern of the institution. The draft report of the peer team will be shared with the Head of the institution for ensuring accuracy of institutional data/information and then submitted to the NAAB of the DEC for further processing. The peer team will validate the claims made in the SAP. The peer team will visit the institution and interact with the institution/programme head and faculty, check documentary evidence to understand the functioning of the institution/ programme in totality. During the visit, support structures for the transaction of programmes in terms of study centres, technologyenabled methodologies employed and partnerships with industry/local community will also be looked into. V. Assessment Outcome: On completion of the peer team visit, a peer team report highlighting the salient features of the institution/ programme evaluated its alignment with the

principles of ODL and extent of fulfillment of programme standards and benchmarks will be presented to the DEC. VI. Grading: The Distance Education Council will review the report and take a decision about the grant of accreditation and declaration of the institutional grade and also the validity period of accreditation. 9. How is accreditation different from recognition? Recognition of an institution means that the institution satisfies minimum criteria prescribed by the DEC for starting or offering programmes through distance mode. Recognition is related to the certification or the authority to operate and is therefore mandatory, whereas assessment and accreditation is the certification of quality or competency that displays compliance of established standards/norms of the DEC. Accreditation is the grading accorded to an institution that meets standards, or satisfies criteria laid down by the DEC. While assessing and accrediting an ODL institution, the DEC will be determining whether the institution has developed mechanisms for quality assurance in its operations and services. The institution would be rated/ranked depending upon its level of achievement. 10 Is it necessary for my institute to be recognised by the DEC . for accreditation? Yes, if you are an institution offering programmes through distance mode. 11 I have already been accredited by NAAC. Is it necessary to . get accreditation from DEC also? Yes, if you are an institution offering programmes through distance mode. 12 Who can apply for accreditation? .

The institutions that offer education through distance mode and are approved by the Distance Education Council and have been operational for a minimum period of five years, are eligible for accreditation, namely: 1. National/State Open Universities - DEIs in conventional universities established by an Act of Parliament or State Legislature, Deemed to be universities declared by the Central Government under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 and Institutions of National Importance declared by an Act of Parliament. 2. - Other ODL institutions of higher learning, including private providers, which are recognised by the DEC. - The institutions that are eligible for accreditation and have received the DEC grants must apply within three years from the date of implementation of this scheme or receipt of last grant, whichever is later. 13 Is the A&A process mandatory? . Yes, if you are an institution offering programmes through distance mode. 14 What are financial implications for the institution that seeks . accreditation? The applicant institution has to submit an application fee as prescribed by the DEC. It has to meet the expenditure on account of TA/DA and sitting fee of the peer team as per Govt of India rules. 15 What are criteria for DEC assessment and accreditation? . There are following six criteria of DEC assessment and accreditation: 1. Infrastructure & Human Resource Capabilities 2. Academic Programmes and Learning Resources 3. Learner Support Services

4. Research and Consultancy 5. Governance 6. Innovative Practices 16 What will be the duration of A&A peer team visit to the . institution? The duration of the peer team visit be normally of 3-4 days depending on the profile of the institution. 17 Will there be re-accreditation? . The assessment outcome is valid for a period of five years. Institutions that complete the five-year accredited period will have to apply for re-accreditation. 18 What are the eligibility conditions for re-accreditation? . Same eligibility conditions as are necessary for accreditation will be valid for re-accreditation. 19 What is the Grading pattern of assessment and accreditation . by Distance Education Council? The following is the Grading pattern of A&A: Scores Obtained 901 - 1000 751 - 900 601 - 750 501 - 600 400 - 500 Letter Grade A+ A B+ B C Performance descriptor Outstanding (Accredited) Excellent (Accredited) Very Good (Accredited) Good (Accredited) Satisfactory

(Accredited) <400 Not Accredited 20 What is the final outcome of the assessment process? . The Grade will be accorded to the institution based on the scoring in the criterion. 21 What is the meaning of the Grade given to an institution? . Grade is the average outcome of the six criterion devised for the assessment and accreditation. 22 Can the institution make public the report on its . accreditation status? No, However, it can make public announcements of final grade accorded to it by the DEC. 23 Will Distance Education Council make a public disclosure of . the accreditation status of the institution? Yes, after a final decision by the DEC a public disclosure of the grades will be made. 24 How long is the accreditation valid? . The assessment outcome is valid for a period of five years. Institutions that complete the five-year accredited period will have to apply for re-accreditation. 25 How is the Distance Education Council accreditation useful . to the stakeholders? The accreditation by DEC would be helpful to stakeholders in 1. verifying that an institution or programme meets established standards; 2. assisting prospective students in identifying acceptable

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institutions; protecting an institution against harmful internal and external pressures; creating goals for self improvements of weaker programmes and stimulating a general raising of standards of educational services offered; involving the faculty and staff comprehensively in institutional evaluation and planning etc; helping institutions in determining the acceptability of transfer credits; and helping to identify institutions and programmes for investment of public and private funds

26 Does the Distance Education Council ensure that there is . adequate transparency in the process of assessment? Yes, the DEC will ensure that there is adequate transparency in the process of assessment and accreditation of an institution. 27 Is there any appeal mechanism for an institution, which feels . that the accreditation grade is not satisfactory? Yes, If the institution disagrees with the decision of award conveyed to it, it can appeal to the DEC for reconsideration of the decision. 28 Does the DEC offer additional assistance and counselling . with regard to accreditation process? Yes, institutions desirous of getting themselves accredited from DEC may write to the DEC for any assistance and counselling in this regard. 29 Can an accredited institution transfer its accreditation . grades to another institution or study centres, by sale, contract franchise or other arrangements? No. 30 How long is an application for accreditation valid? . 9

Usually for one year after the LOI has been accepted by the DEC. 31 What are the costs involved for accreditation? . There are following types of fees: 1. Application fees 2. On-site peer team sitting fees 3. TA/DA to the members of the peer team 32 From whom may one seek advice in preparing SAP? . Institutions desirous of getting themselves accredited from DEC may write to the DEC for any assistance and counselling in this regard. 33 How long does the accreditation process take? . Usually 12-18 months, depending upon the type of institution, programmes offered by it and availability of peer team members to visit the institution.

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