ACCREDITION is a process of quality assurance whereby programmes in an approved institution is critically apprised to verify whether that programme meets the norms and standards laid down. Further, accreditation provides quality assurance. Approval of institutions are based mainly on the minimum requirements of norms.

In a typical B-School the norms are spelled out in terms of numbers required for basic infrastructure like land, building, number of books, journals, computers and software requirements. The faculty number and qualification is also prescribed. An institution, which fulfils the norms laid down by the approving agency gets approved for the programme conducted by the institution.

But the accreditation goes much beyond the norms. In most of the cases the accreditation is voluntary. The institutions which are approved like to go through the process of accreditation. It enables them to know the quality of their programmes and their advanages and disadvantages.

Why accreditation?
It helps an organisation benchmark the best practices offered by different institutions.  This helps continuous improvement of the institution in the delivery of the programme.

The process
The delivery of a course depends on so many parameters. The development of course curriculum using pedagogy in delivering the programme involves a lot of intellectual thinking. The accreditation process helps to build up high quality course curriculum and also the process as well.

International collaborations
The era of globalisation made the academic institution to go for international collaborations. Any institution abroad when they look for collaborators the easiest parameter to decide on international collaboration is the accreditation. The international accreditation definitely helps collaboration on international level

Campus recruitment
More and more MNCs have started operating in India. When they look for recruiting students to work in their respective organisations, this international accreditation will be a value add  for the process.

Quality improvement
Every system looks for continuous improvement. Continuous improvement may be achieved through revisiting the process continuously and systematically. The accreditation process developed by various accreditation agencies helps any institution to revisit the mission objective linkage as well as objectives with the output of the programme.
 
Philosophy of accreditation
An institution voluntarily undergoes an independent appraisal of its educational activities by a peer team. The accreditation demonstrates initial capacity and a commitment to sustain and improve processes. The outcome of the  accreditation is highly desirable, yet most of the benefit accrues to the stakeholders via mission review, strategic planning and self-assessment.  Accreditation is process-led and is a faculty-driven process. The accreditation demonstrates quality, burden of proof and justification is on the institution. Hence drives the institution to under-promise. The accreditation process has shifted from an emphasis on “inputs” and a “prescriptive process” to  greater emphasis is on “activities”, “outcomes” and an “assessment” process.  
 
Principles of accreditation

• Accreditation is integrity-based, not compliance-based.
• Think beyond minimum standards prescribed by the approving agency.
• Accreditation helps the institution to experience quantum leaps not just gradual improvement in the quality process.
• Accreditation provides a structure for doing what the institution should already be doing.
• Accreditation brings discipline to the improvement process. Accreditation provides access to peer institutions.