A multiplicity of rankings of universities around the world and the wide difference noticed in them might confuse students exploring international avenues for higher studies. However, what is heartening is that the names of Indian universities are also rising in the rankings.
Some of the results may seem curious, like the respected Times Higher Education World University Rankings in alliance with Thomson Reuters rating Panjab University, Chandigarh, above the IITs. While the parameters may vary, the IITs must look into the causes of why institutes of excellence in technical education are coming down in the rankings.
The highly rated QS (Quacquarelli Symonds Ltd) rankings tend to be more oriented towards India and look more eastward than others. IITs do figure high in their specialised BRICS rankings. The point is Indian universities are improving their international outlook as a whole but they need to do a lot more in aligning with the most modern methods that do not tend to rely only on classic textbook scholastic training. Tuning students’ intrinsic problem-solving abilities is more of a priority.
Indian varsities tend to rank low globally as they lack Nobel laureates in faculty, which is a parameter for judging universities too. Varsities in China are known to enjoy far greater freedom in hiring faculty and attracting students to a new work ethic. India has some way to go to rub shoulders with even the best in Asia, although our top institutes are faring well enough despite the financial constraints and multiple controls.
