As per the latest release of the NAAC of the University Grants Commission (UGC), the Utkal University has been awarded a final grade point of 3.26 earning A+ position.

The prestigious university of Odisha received grade point of 3.57 in curricular aspects, 3.33 in teaching-learning and evaluation, 3.15 in research, innovations and extension, 3.65 in infrastructure and learning resources, 3.11 in student support and progression, 2.62 in governance, leadership and management and 3.37 in institutional values and best practices.

The university has secured 3.16 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) to get A by the NAAC in May. Since the university had secured A+ in the last NAAC assessment in 2016 and was striving to get A++, drop in the grade led to hue and cry among educationists, intellectuals and former students of the university.

Following this, the Higher Education department had filed an appeal before the NAAC seeking a fresh assessment. As a result, an NAAC team visited Utkal University in September.

Earlier, Ravenshaw University in Cuttack city was awarded A++ grade with 3.58 point by the NAAC.

According to sources, the members of the NAAC committee visited the university and conducted an assessment of its infrastructure, faculties, and other facilities between November 20 and 22.

The NAAC team held an assessment on seven parameters – curricular aspects; teaching-learning and evaluation; research, innovations, and extension; infrastructure and learning resources; student support and progression; governance, leadership and management, and institutional values and best practices.

Ravenshaw University received a grade point of 3.73 in curricular aspects, 3.19 in teaching-learning and evaluation, 3.5 in research, innovations and extension, 3.85 in infrastructure and learning resources, 3.75 in student support and progression, 3.58 in governance, leadership and management and 3.91 in the institutional values and best practices.

The NAAC has awarded a total criterion-wise weightage grade point (CrWGP) of 3,582 out of 1000 weightage, sources said.

The Britishers had established Ravenshaw College in 1868. The college was granted an autonomous status in the 1990s and finally upgraded to become a unitary university in 2006.