A study in mediocrity

[prasad1]

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The QS World University Rankings 2012 was released recently. While a number of Asian universities find a mention in the list of the top 200 universities of the world, unfortunately, not even a single Indian university features in the list.

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For Indian universities to get global recognition, the regulatory environment should favour complete autonomy and academic freedom based on the principles of regulatory transparency and institutional accountability. The existing regulatory framework of higher education in India is limited to keeping malpractices in higher education in check. While this is important, this process institutionalises mediocrity, where the ability to inspire confidence among faculty is significantly marginalised. Innovative measures are required to differentiate our universities on the basis of internationally-recognised benchmarks.


All this means that we should be willing to learn and to change, which also includes changing our attitude towards our universities. Our higher education system is crying out for reforms. But to introduce reforms, we must be prepared to introspect and then honestly address all the challenges that our higher education system faces today.

C Raj Kumar is founding vice-chancellor, OP Jindal Global University, Sonepat.
The Hindustan Times.

 

[manoharkumar]

Dear Mr.Prasad,
Not at all surprising that not even one Indian University has found a place in the world map. But all the universities here display huge advertisements that their university is so wonderful and has so much huge facility, have tie up with so& so univ of US/UK etc. I am writing only of TN as i know only abt these and have a taste of what they are upto. TO EARN MORE MONEY FROM THE STUDENTS...NOTHING ELSE. The infratructure given is poor in the so called universities. The top person of few of the Univ are big politicians and their background is nothing woorth writing. Two or three of them even do not have degree if i am correct. Just by hiring some person with alphabets behind their names as Dean/principal etc what sort of education can you impart to the students and how can you stand in the world comparison.

Every seat in pvt medical college is SOLD to the higest bidder. The deserving one never gets a seat in the college hea wants due to reservation , and what not!! Education is the second biggest money spinner in India after Politics. Even a lay may will say about the standard of our outgoing school/college/university students.. Few who really come up well fly overseas...

I am not at all surprised by the findings, would have been atleast felt happy if VIT could have made it there.

Cheers.

 

[tbs]

hi
atleast some IIT/IIM should be there in the list....so called prestigious institutions....so sad story...

 

[sarang]

In education we are like chinese; mass produce. Made in india students are accepted in US and elsewhere.

If an university wants to get into the list it must work hard on the parameters used for evaluation. Like preparing for JEE, CET, toefl; then it will be possible to get into the initial 2000 universities.

The parameters used by QS:
1. Academic reputation (weightage 40%) - 46000 responses (visibility to the respondent is important)
2. Employer reputation (10%) - 25000 responses. Employer list is based on another survey.
3. Faculty/ student ratio (20%) - measurable parameter
4. Citations per faculty (20%) From citation database; visibility of citation is important
5. International faculty ratio (5%) US universities will score high in this category
6. Reputational rankings by faculty area

Unless our universities address each of this parameter and work on them, ranking will not improve.

I believe we believe and work for 'employability'. In the last 10 years about 50 boys and girls from my relatives and friends, who did graduation from private colleges have gone abroad for higher studies and jobs. I have also interviewed students from many private colleges - amrutandamayi-coimbatore, vishwakarma- pune, sathyabama chennai, SRM chennai, MIT-pune to name a few. Majority of the students are well above average and have good potential. Some are deemed universities and some are affiliated.

Last note: If indian universities notch up in ranking, fees and capitation will also keep pace with the rank.

 

[sarang]

IIT and IIM provide the best raw material for the american universities. Most of the students get placed or get offers when they have completed half the course.

hi
atleast some IIT/IIM should be there in the list....so called prestigious institutions....so sad story...

 

[vgane]

The private universities never talk of global ranking...They show what is advantageous to them..Only Indian universities are compared in India...It is pan india comparison...It is like saying I am comparing the worse with more worse & worst


I do not think that our Universities know what are the shortfalls wrt global standards...Otherwise atleast the so called autonomous IIT's should have figured in this list...

 

[sarang]

Indian universities should emulate Nalanda: Lord Paul

Even in management, 'bench marking' was recommended to improve one's (or company's) ranking or position. This concept was superseded, that to excel, one should think out of the hat and chart a distinctly different path.
This is the view of lord swaraj paul, an MITian.

LONDON: Indian universities, which failed to make it to the top 200 World University Rankings, should draw inspiration from ancient academies like Nalanda to be recognised globally, says NRI industrialist Lord Swraj Paul.

"Our (Indian) students are unquestionably among the best and the brightest anywhere. The time is long overdue for our advanced education to have the same high ranking," Paul, who graduated from MIT six decades ago and is the Chancellor of Wolverhampton and Westminster Universities, said.

Indian universities should emulate Nalanda: Lord Paul - The Times of India