Disturbingly, despite being ‘Vishwaguru’, India’s position in higher education remains poor
Post Date – Friday 23rd – 12:15 AM – June 30th
Despite its self-proclaimed “Vishwaguru”, India’s position in higher education is still poor. The education system needs to be overhauled to bring it in line with global standards. The latest World University Rankings once again underscore the urgency of this task. In the recently released QS World University Rankings 2024, no Indian university is in the top 100 globally. Aside from a few bright spots, the country’s place in global higher education isn’t much to cheer about. Only IIT Bombay improved its ranking – from 172 last year to 149 now – while several IITs dropped. What’s more, the Bangalore-based Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has slipped from 155th last year to its current 225th place. According to the report, India’s rise to the top 500 list in the world is largely driven by personal income tax. While Delhi University (ranked 407th) and Anna University (ranked 427th) have entered the top 500, the picture is largely bleak as most other so-called prestigious institutions and universities have slipped in the QS rankings. A total of 45 Indian universities were shortlisted in the latest ranking, which includes 1,500 institutions worldwide. The shift in stance may be attributable to a recalibration of the methodology adopted for this edition of QS, which introduces sustainability, employment outcomes and international research networks in the assessment criteria.
Disturbingly, most universities have not seen any improvement in their rankings. On the contrary, even in other surveys such as the Ministry of Education’s NIRF ranking, their popularity has declined. After years of little improvement in the nation’s position, it is time for policymakers to seriously reflect on the steps needed to raise academic and research standards at our universities. Although India has more than 1,000 universities, including central universities, state universities, private universities and national key universities, their academic and research standards are not yet up to international standards. While research and internationalization levels on Indian campuses remain weak links, the higher education sector also faces funding constraints and operates on a largely linear model with little focus on specialization and innovation. India must find ways to improve its teaching capabilities and attract more talented students and teachers from all over the world to study in India to enhance its global standing. Education experts have been calling for an overhaul of the system to bring it in line with global standards. There are some good people who need to be cultivated. There is also a need to increase budgetary allocations for higher education. The approval of the National Research Foundation (NRF) by the coalition cabinet is a good start in curbing the decline in the quality of higher education in India.
