An in-country program on accreditation and certification for quality assurance was successfully held at the National Technical Teachers’ Training and Research (NITTTR) Campus in Chennai, India from November 21-25, 2022. A total of 22 participants were able to participate.

The program focuses on the implementation of APACC Accreditation, which is designed to help TVET institutions boost their ongoing performance efforts for the benefit of their students. APACC insists on a relentless pursuit of excellence via a quality education system for itself and the institutions it accredits.

Dr. Kesavan Ulaganathen, Program Coordinator of ICP India, during one of the classroom sessions.
The participants of the program during one of the face-to-face lectures.

The program aims to appreciate the need and importance of quality assurance and identify the best practices in TVET Quality Assurance Systems member countries. The lectures are designed to help the participants to comprehend the need and importance of National/Regional/International accreditation. The samples and exercises aim to help them to gain insights on APACC accreditation as a continuous improvement approach to organizational excellence in TVET. An action plan is also expected to be prepared per representative to reflect on the lessons and plans that will be implemented after the program.

Prof. Dr. Usha Natesan, Director of NITTTR Chennai, during her address to the participants of the International Seminar.

The program was supervised by Prof. G.L.D. Wickramasinghe, CPSC Director General and Prof. Dr. Usha Natesan, PhD, D.Litt. the Director of NITTTR Chennai. Program resources and logistical requirements were delivered by Dr. Kesavan Ulaganathen, CPSC Governing Board Faculty Consultant. Local coordination and arrangements were facilitated by Dr. G. Kulanthaivel, the Head of the Head, Centre for International Affairs at NITTTR-Chennai. In addition, local lectures were also facilitated by Prof. Dr. T.G. Sambanthan, Professor & Head of the Computer Science & Engineering Department of NITTTR, Chennai and Prof. G. Augustine Maniraj Pandian is a Professor and Dean of Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) of SRM Institute of Science and Technology.

The five-day program tackled the following key topics: (1) Organizational Excellence in Today’s competitive environment through Accreditation; (2) Concept of Quality Assurance and Quality Standard in TVET; (3) National Accreditation and Certification systems and practices in India ( NBA / NAAC); (4) Quality Assurance Auditing through APACC; (5) Issues and Challenges in Accreditation Process and (7) Innovative Approaches for stimulating Accreditation system in Technical Education in India.

The program participants during their visit at the SRM University in Chennai.

International Seminar on Quality Assurance Through Accreditation

Interface of the program proceedings broadcasted via Zoom in CPSC Manila, Philippines.

NITTTR Officials, Guests and Dr. Kesavan lighting the oil lamp during the opening ceremonies of the International Seminar.

In order to capitalize on the lessons brought by accreditation and quality assurance, an international seminar of the same topic was organized on November 24, 2022 and was conducted both onsite and online. During this event, a total of 500 participants listened to a distinguished panel of speakers composed of notable personalities in the field of TVET accreditation and certification in India.

The proceedings were opened by Dr. G. Kulanthaivel (Professor of EECE and Head of Center of International Affairs, NITTTR Chennai), followed by a Presidential Address delivered by Prof. Dr. Usha Natesan (Director of NITTTR Chennai).

Afterwards, the audience were addressed by the Guest of Honor, Prof. Dr. C.R. Muthukrishnan, former Deputy Director of IIT Madras, Chennai. He acknowledged the role that accreditation played in ensuring the high quality of TVET implementation in the country. He also extended his congratulations to NITTTR for organizing the program. His address was followed by the Inaugural Address of Prof. D.G. Babu, Director of Madras Institute of Development Studies in Chennai in which he welcomed the participants and opened the day’s session. Dr. Kesavan Ulaganathen, CPSC Governing Board-Engaged Faculty Consultant, expressed his appreciation to the participants and organizers.

Dr. Kesavan Ulaganathen (left) and Dr. G.Kulanthaivel (right) addressing the participants during the seminar.

The session invited five speakers who tackled the following topics:

  • Quality Education: Lessons Learned, Issues and Strategies by Prof. D.G. Babu (Director of Madras Institute of Development Studies)
  • National Board of Accreditation (NBA) by Prof. C.R. Muthukrishnan (Former Deputy Director of IIT Madras, Chennai).
  • Quality Assurance: Accreditation Imperatives by Prof. R. Jagadeesh Kannan (Professor, Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai).
  • APACC accreditation and certification of TVET institutions by Dr. Kesavan Ulaganathen (GB Faculty Consultant, CPSC, Philippines)
  • A case study of an APACC Accredited Indian Polytechnic College by Dr. M.A. Ashok (Principal, Nachimuthu Polytechnic College, Pollachi, India).

The participants of the International Seminar

A question-and-answer session ensued in which the distinguished speakers were able to answer the queries of the participants about the accreditation and certification process. It is hoped that the event enabled the reawakening of interest on institutional accreditation and certification in India, as evidenced by the participants’ curiosity and willingness to absorb as much relevant information as possible.