Andhra University may open foreign campus

The excellent ranking by NAAC is a red letter day in the history of 98 years of AU. AU has achieved a rare opportunity for very few universities in the country with a score of 3.74 - Vice Chancellor Prof P V G D Prasad Reddy

Andhra University, which is in an upbeat mood following National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) NAAC A++ ranking with 3.74 CGPA grade may open its campus abroad.

One of the premier universities in India, AU has already achieved the distinction of enrolling 1,000 plus foreign students mostly from Third World countries for various courses on its main campus in Visakhapatnam. Vice Chancellor Prof P V G D Prasad Reddy recently said the excellent ranking by NAAC is a red letter day in the history of 98 years of AU. He said that AU has achieved a rare opportunity for very few universities in the country with a score of 3.74. In the category of universities, only three universities in the country have crossed the score of 3.70 so far. NAAC recognition of AU will be effective for the next seven years.

On the prospects of setting up a campus abroad, he said that as a result of the best NAAC rank, AU got the opportunity to apply for the status of Institute of Eminence. Similarly, AU will get an opportunity to open its campus in foreign countries as well. He said that this ranking is very useful for getting research funds. In the future, more foreign students will also show interest in joining AU in large numbers.

The NAAC experts rigorously checked seven parameters before giving the score. Curriculum, teaching-learning, research, student support-student programs, infrastructure, governance-leadership, institution best practices were examined. The NAAC committee appreciated the green chemistry being taught to AU engineering students. NAAC has provided students with better marks by looking at opportunities for teaching, internship, placements, accommodation, guidance for higher education.

In the spirit of the Nadu -Nedu scheme, the efforts made in the conservation and preservation of historical and ancient buildings in AU and the completion of basic facilities were examined and given marks. In the institutional best practices section, AU’s Startup Incubation Center, A- Hub, yoga, sports and psychological counseling centers, which are useful for overall development of students, have given the best marks.

Prasad Reddy said Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, when he came to AU for the first time in 2019, spoke on the stage about having chair professors and explained its importance. The NAAC committee felt that with the implementation of the CM’s words in action today, apart from prominent institutions like IOCL, RINL, GMR, two foreign software companies have also provided chair professors, he said and appreciated AU’s linkage with industries having 16 chair professors.