SRM University, Andhra Pradesh successfully hosted a significant one-day awareness workshop on NABL accreditation as part of the nationwide Gunvatta Yatra initiative. The event, organised by the Quality Council of India (QCI) and the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), brought valuable knowledge about quality standards and accreditation processes directly to our campus.
Gunvatta Yatra is an important programme, designed to elevate quality standards across healthcare, laboratories, and MSMEs throughout India’s Tier-2, Tier-3 cities and rural areas, focused specifically on NABL accreditation processes and benefits. The workshop began with an inauguration hosted by Dr Pranav from the Department of Civil Engineering. The event started with traditional lamp lighting by dignitaries from QCI Bangalore, the Dean of Research, and the HOD of Civil Engineering, followed by an invocation song that set a positive tone for the day’s proceedings.
Dr Ranjit Thapa, Dean of Research delivered the welcome address. He emphasised that despite being a young institution, SRM AP has established itself as a research-intensive university with substantial laboratory facilities and expressed his hope to continue this momentum in the future. He articulated the huge need for the research ecosystem in Andhra Pradesh, noting the requisite for expanded laboratory infrastructure, advanced equipment, and enhanced research support throughout the region.
Mr Srikanth R, Joint Director at NABL with an impressive 30 years of professional experience in quality assurance offered comprehensive insights into the purpose and importance of laboratory accreditation. He then explained how NABL effectively helps laboratories implement international standards and detailed the recent establishment of NABL’s regional office in Bangalore to better serve southern India. Mr Srikanth emphasised accreditation’s critical role as a tool for removing technical barriers in laboratory operations and shared the significant achievement of having 9,100 laboratories accredited across India under NABL’s rigorous standards.
Following this, MrbSreeram Pinnamaraju, Assistant Director at QCI/NABL, outlined the workshop’s comprehensive agenda covering accreditation courses, application procedures, benefits of becoming accredited, and pathways to becoming an accreditor. His said that the practical, process-oriented presentations would provide participants with actionable knowledge for implementing accreditation standards within their own institutions.
As part of the broader Gunvatta Yatra movement, this workshop marked a significant step in building quality awareness and institutional capacity across India. It also reinforced SRM AP’s unwavering commitment to promoting research excellence and adherence to quality standards.
