Madras University is now a category 1 university in the country 

Madras Univ. earns A++ grade in NAAC assessment, granting it autonomy & eligibility for ₹100cr grant. Team worked on motto ‘Keep in Mind Our University, Our Future’. Former VCs credit unity & integrity of faculty, alumni support & cultural event for achievement. Eligible for online distance edu, twinning & joint degree programmes, Institute of Eminence status & other govt. funding.

The University of Madras has been graded A++, with a score of 3.59 over 4, in the recent NAAC assessment. This means the University Grants Commission has granted it full autonomy as the University is now a top-ranked institution in the country.  

In the previous cycle in 2014, the university had received A grade.

In infrastructure and learning resources, the university scored 3.85 grade points and in curricular aspects, it received 3.8 grade points. In institutional values and best practices, the university has scored 3.57 and the teaching-learning and evaluation has been rated 3.67, pushing up its overall score. 

Vice-Chancellor S. Gowri, who demitted office on Sunday, credited the team with this achievement. The inspection was done earlier this month. ‘Keep in Mind Our University, Our Future’ was the motto the team worked on, he said, adding, “The alumni gave a lot of support for renovation of the IQAC office, the Senate House and the Main Campus. Everything was possible because of the illustrious alumni.”  

A cultural event was held at the Senate House on the last day of the NAAC team’s visit. Mr. Gowri attributed the achievement to “the unity and integrity of the faculty as a team“ that worked over a year across various campuses. 

Former Vice-Chancellor S.P. Thyagarajan said, “The university will be put under category 1. It can have two off-campuses and offshore campus, develop any curriculum in any general discipline, except medicine and engineering. They need only to inform the UGC.” 

The grading allows the university to start online distance education programme without UGC inspection or restrictions. It can tie up with foreign universities, start twinning and joint degree programmes. “They will also become eligible for the Institute of Eminence status in case there is another call,” he said.