5-member NAAC Peer Team visits CUPB

Bathinda, February 24, 2023: A five-member National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) Peer Team visited the Central University of Punjab, Bathinda (CUPB) from 22nd to 24th February, 2023 for the assessment of second cycle Accreditation of the University. The chairperson of this NAAC Peer Team was Prof. Manikrao M. Salunkhe, Vice-Chancellor, Bharati Vidyapeeth, Pune. Prof. Salunkhe was the founder Vice-Chancellor, Central University of Rajasthan and former Vice-Chancellor of Shivaji University, Kolhapur; Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University, Nashik; and Symbiosis University of Applied Sciences, Indore. The other members of the NAAC Peer Team were Prof. K.C. Sunny, former Vice-Chancellor, National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi and currently Professor in CU Kerala; Prof. Harsha Patadia, Coordinator NAAC and Former Professor, Centre for Advanced Studies in Education at MS University, Baroda; Prof. Umesh K. Patil, Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishvidyalaya, Sagar; and Prof. Utpal Kumar De, Department of Economics, North Eastern Hill University, Shillong. On arrival at Bathinda, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Raghavendra P. Tiwari, welcomed the Peer Team.

On reaching the university campus on the first day of the visit, the NAAC Peer Team was warmly welcomed CUPB fraternity. The team received a Guard of Honour and a gratifying salute from NSS volunteers. In the opening session, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Raghavendra P. Tiwari, gave a presentation about the functioning of the university. He briefed the visiting team about the progress made by the university on the academic, administrative and infrastructure fronts. The peer team had a detailed interaction with IQAC Director, Prof. Monisha Dhiman, and IQAC members, wherein they verified and scrutinized the documents. Following that, various interaction sessions were held with deans of schools, heads of departments, faculty, and research scholars, during which they presented their respective departments' accomplishments and shared their future plans. In the evening, NAAC Peer team attended a cultural programme organized by university students showcasing the Bharatiya Cultural Integration at Central University of Punjab. During this programme, students of CUPB from 27 different states and 7 union territories put their best foot forward to showcase glimpses of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat by displaying spectacular performances of their respective cultures.

On the second and third day, the peer team interacted with the members of the Executive Council, Academic Council, Finance Committee, Planning Board, Building Advisory Committee, Chairpersons of various cells, and university officers. Prof. B.P. Garg, Controller of Examinations and Registrar (I/c), briefed about the functioning of different administrative sections, the examination process and the evaluation pattern adopted by the university. Prof. R.K. Wusirika, Dean Incharge Academics; Prof. Anjana Munshi, Director Research and Development; Prof. P.K. Mishra, Finance Officer; Prof. Anil Mantha, Stores and Purchase Officer and other officials of the university shared the functions of their respective offices. The peer team had a series of interactions with other stakeholders, including alumni, parents, students, teaching, non-teaching staff and residents of Ghudda Village. The peer team expressed their happiness regarding the active participation of stakeholders, especially parents and alumni. During this visit, the Peer Team inaugurated Kinnow Garden at CUPB by planting kinnow saplings.

As a part of its schedule, the Peer Team visited around 16 departments and conducted onsite inspections at various infrastructure and learning facilities available at CUPB, viz. Research Laboratories, Teaching Laboratories, Library, Computer Centre, Audio Visual Studio, Museum, Botanical Garden, Animal House, Legal Aid Cell, Gymnasium, Boys and Girls Hostel, Residential Area, Annapurna Hall, Health Centre etc., to validate the Qualitative Metrics (QlM) as per the criteria of the Self Study Report (SSR).

The three-day visit of the NAAC Peer Team at CUPB concluded with an Exit Meeting held on 24th February, 2023, in which the Chairperson of the NAAC Peer Team, Prof. Salunkhe, handed over the report prepared by the NAAC Peer Team to the Vice-Chancellor, CUPB. Prof. Salunkhe congratulated all three vice chancellors of CUPB for selecting talented faculty, as with their consistent efforts the university is marching ahead to accomplish its vision of being recognised as one of the best research centric universities in the country. On this occasion, Prof. Tiwari, while expressing gratitude towards the NAAC team, stated that the NAAC Peer Team members, during their visit, had provided an equal opportunity to all stakeholders to showcase their work and contributed valuable suggestions that would help the university excel further and touch new heights in the coming years.