OU to face NAAC scrutiny

Hyderabad: Osmania University, which is all set for the visit of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) team, is likely to project the innovative, collaborative, inclusive and diverse educational ethos and approach designed to provide an intellectually stimulating environment, informed by and interlinked with strengths in research and knowledge exchange.

With new grading system in place, Osmania University Vice-Chancellor Prof S Ramchandram is keen on securing A++ grade for the university. The grading under A has been sub-categorised into A+ and A++. To qualify for A++ category, the university should score above 3.75 out of 4 CGPA.

A+ is awarded for scores between 3.5 and 3.75 while A is awarded for scores between 3 and 3.5 CGPA. Osmania University has always been awarded A Grade till now.

The University is likely to showcase a positive learner journey for all by focusing on successful transitions across all levels of education.

“We are committed to providing access to people from the widest possible range of backgrounds, to improving student retention and ensuring onward success,” says a senior Professor and adds that entrepreneurial education that nurtures business talent, especially in the engineering and management streams is also a positive point.
That the University is inclusive is proved by the fact that of the total 12,770 (including PhDs) students enrolled in 2015-2016, 3,055 SCs/STs, 5,611 were from Other Backward Classes.

In the last decade, SCs/STs and Other Backward Classes enrollment significantly increased as per the guidelines of the government, over 7,000 scholarships have been provided to students belonging to SCs/STs, BCs and EPP categories. Support services are provided to SCs/STs, differently-abled, BCs, minorities, and foreign students. Some of these are: Equal Opportunity Cell, SC/ST Cell, BC Cell, Minority Cell, University Foreign Relations Office.

Another area of focus is research. Challenging conventional wisdom has been embedded and stated in the firman of the Nizam, the founder of the University 100 years ago. The case is strengthened by 232 research projects for individuals with Rs 30 crore funding, 5,225 research papers, including 2,223 in Scopus Database with an average impact factor of 0.985 and 2398 in Web of Science Database with an average citation per paper of 5.5 published in national and international journals of repute, H-Index of 40 as per Web of Science Database, 230 seminars, 65 conferences, 40 workshops, 19 symposia of national/ international character, consultancy projects worth Rs 2.24 crore, and 2,218 PhDs.

Research collaboration with 46 national and 12 international organisations in frontier science and cutting-edge technologies and filing of nine patents and grant of five patents strengthen the argument to project research.

All these are an indication that research continues to be of central importance comes for the benefit of business, industry and society as a whole. In keeping with our reputation and status as a leading university, we are continually advancing the intensity, quality and international competitiveness of our research.

OU intends to accept the strategies as envisaged by the MHRD/ UGC in order to enhance the access to higher education. OU would like to increase the intake to the tune of 25 per cent, over and above the existing strength of 12,770. This is in keeping with the market situation in the country and abroad.

The entire University administration, faculty and students who have been working diligently hope that the points showcased would go well with the peer committee members.