VC Appa Rao Podile credits faculty, students for HCU ranking in top varsities

Hyderabad: Notwithstanding the ongoing protests in the varsity following suicide by a student, Hyderabad Central University Vice Chancellor Appa Rao Podile on Monday expressed happiness over the institution being ranked among the best universities in the country and vowed to continue the good work.

Rao credited the faculty, students and non-teaching staff for the university being ranked at number four among all institutions in the country.

"We are humbled by this achievement and the university will put in more efforts to ensure that it is recognized worldwide for its quality of teaching and research. Our alumni have played a vital role in the growth of the university and it's our responsibility to produce quality students who will be model citizens for India," Podile said.

The University of Hyderabad, popularly known as HCU, has been ranked among the best universities of the country in the first government-backed survey using parameters ranging from research facilities, academic excellence to the placements of graduates, according to a varsity release.

As per the rankings, released by HRD Minister Smriti Irani in Delhi today, the HCU is ranked fourth among all institutions in the country, it said.

More than 230 universities were surveyed for the rankings.

The criteria used to rank the institutions included teaching, learning and resources, research, professional practice and collaborative performance, graduation outcomes, outreach and perception.

An independent agency, the National Bureau of Accreditation, validated the data submitted by the institutes.

The new ranking framework has been drafted to provide an Indian context to educational aspirations and needs. This will help institutions that conduct research in languages other than English and are focused on inclusive education, two factors that are overlooked by international agencies, the release said.