Indian educational institutions are increasingly recognizing the value of global university rankings, according to Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), the organization behind the recently released Asian Universities Ranking for 2014. This year’s list features 17 Indian universities, a significant increase from the 11 included in the previous year.
Source: QS website.
While the latest rankings show a slight dip in rankings for most of India’s top universities, the substantial increase in the number of represented institutions suggests a positive trajectory for the future.
As in previous years, the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) continue to dominate the rankings. IIT Delhi maintains its position at 38th, surpassing IIT Bombay, which now ranks 41st. Five additional IITs secured spots within the top 100, with Kanpur and Madras ranking just outside the top 50.
This year’s rankings saw the debut of several Indian institutions, including Banaras Hindu University, Panjab University, Manipal University, Amity University, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, and the Indian Institute of Information Technology. With seven IITs among the top eight institutions, the upper echelons of Indian higher education demonstrate a continued strength in science and technology fields, surpassing their presence in the arts and social sciences.
Ben Sowter, Head of Research at QS, notes that although IITs have an excellent reputation among employers and produce a significant volume of research, their impact in terms of citations is yet to reach its full potential. He further highlights that while India’s increasing representation in the rankings is encouraging, the IITs still have ground to cover before they can compete with Asia’s leading institutions.
India’s accomplishment of placing two universities in the top 50 positions it alongside Singapore and Thailand, trailing behind Japan (13 institutions), China (9 institutions), South Korea (9 institutions), Hong Kong (6 institutions), and Taiwan (6 institutions).
Among traditional universities, the University of Delhi leads the way at 81st place, down one spot from the previous year. Despite its high ranking among employers and academics (top 25 and top 40 respectively), the university’s large size and low levels of international faculty and student exchange hinder its performance in other indicators. Notably, the University of Calcutta stands out in student exchange programs, securing the second position in Asia for outbound exchanges and 52nd for inbound.
Top 10 Indian universities in the QS University Rankings: Asia 2014
2014
rank
2013
rank
Name
38
38
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY DELHI (IITD)
41
39
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY BOMBAY (IITB)
52
51
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY KANPUR (IITK)
53
49
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY MADRAS (IITM)
60
58
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY KHARAGPUR (IITKGP)
70
66
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY ROORKEE (IITR)
81
80
UNIVERSITY OF DELHI
95
89
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY GUWAHATI (IITG)
131
143
UNIVERSITY OF CALCUTTA
131
140
UNIVERSITY OF MUMBAI
© QS Quacquarelli Symonds 2004-2014
To view all the 17 Indian universities in the rankings: www.TopUniversities.com
At the ICAA Rankings & Excellence Dialogue, MHRD Secretary Ashok Thakur stressed the need for India to establish 40 million university spots to meet increasing demand. He emphasized the importance of capitalizing on India’s demographic dividend, stating that it’s not solely about quantity but also about maintaining quality.
Thakur urged Indian institutions to move beyond the “excuse” that global ranking metrics and indicators are unsuitable for them, arguing that they must compete on the same playing field as the rest of the world.
In partnership with KPMG in India, the Indian Centre for Assessment and Accreditation (ICAA), host of the QS University Rankings: Asia launch in New Delhi, aims to help Indian universities understand and effectively present their data in alignment with ranking methodologies.
Mohandas Pai, Chairman of ICAA, argues that international rankings undervalue the quality of Indian universities, particularly the top 20%. He points to the reluctance of Indian institutions to prioritize global rankings and their tendency to withhold comprehensive, up-to-date performance data as contributing factors. This lack of accessible information, he adds, poses a challenge for ranking organizations.
A. Jeyaprakash, Vice Chairman of ICAA, shared the organization’s ambitious goal of seeing at least five elite Indian universities break into the top 200 of the World University Rankings by 2025.
Narayanan Ramaswamy, Partner and Head of Education at KPMG in India, acknowledges India’s global recognition for academic excellence but emphasizes the need to translate this recognition into improved global rankings. He asserts that Indian universities, whose graduates have made significant contributions worldwide, must actively promote themselves as world-class institutions through rapid innovation, collaboration, and active networking. Rankings, he suggests, can provide valuable insights for Indian universities, highlighting areas for improvement and outlining a path toward greater international recognition.
Dr. Karthick Sridhar, ICAA’s Vice-Chairman, emphasized the projected growth of the Indian economy and the subsequent need for diverse higher education institutions to cater to evolving industry demands and individual aspirations. He stressed the importance of defining clear objectives for institutions, measuring outcomes, and evaluating impact. He further added that high-performing institutions should prioritize research, attract global talent, and strive for higher rankings to maintain their position as beacons of excellence on a global stage. In conclusion, he called for proactive engagement in global rankings as a necessity for Indian universities.