Can We Create 'World-Class' Universities?
Sarath Shyam, Managing Editor
When it comes to global ranking of universities, India has some reason to rejoice this year. In the Times Higher Education (THE) ranking of world's small universities (institutes with less than 5,000 students), Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore has achieved 8th rank. Constantly figuring among the world's best institutes, IISc has always been there in the top of global rankings like a lonely warrior from India, competing against the internationals universities, which have enviable track record, long history and, of course, huge budgets. Well, we certainly do better with smaller institutes and we need to admit that our universities are slightly better than what these global ranks show. However, we must replicate the same success of IISc for the larger ones by catering to the educational needs of the population.
Indeed, building world-class universities has been always a great concern for the Government of India. In 2012, the UPA Government had proposed Universities for Research and Innovation Bill to set up 14 world-class universities with autonomy from the UGC and other regulatory bodies, but failed. When the NDA Government came into power in 2014, they took the old wine to fill a new bottle and announced that they would establish 20 world-class universities, which will enjoy greater academic and financial autonomy with the University Grants Commission (UGC) having no control over their functioning. Ultimately, the government is aiming at building a small number of world-class universities which will cater to a really, really small number of students, while letting the vast majority to suffer at the hands of the UGC and remain mediocre. However, we cannot afford to have excellence in a sea of mediocrity, as growing economic powerhouse.
While, India needs 125 new universities per year for next five years to meet the demand, we have come up with our latest edition of 'Top 25 Private/Deemed Universities in India Survey.' We hope our efforts to create this exhaustive blue print elucidating the ideas about Private/ Deemed Universities help the student across the country to make accurate decisions about their study destinations. On the cover, we feature Xavier University Bhubaneswar, which had been conceived with a vision to be recognized as a world class learning Institution.
Enjoy Reading.
Indeed, building world-class universities has been always a great concern for the Government of India. In 2012, the UPA Government had proposed Universities for Research and Innovation Bill to set up 14 world-class universities with autonomy from the UGC and other regulatory bodies, but failed. When the NDA Government came into power in 2014, they took the old wine to fill a new bottle and announced that they would establish 20 world-class universities, which will enjoy greater academic and financial autonomy with the University Grants Commission (UGC) having no control over their functioning. Ultimately, the government is aiming at building a small number of world-class universities which will cater to a really, really small number of students, while letting the vast majority to suffer at the hands of the UGC and remain mediocre. However, we cannot afford to have excellence in a sea of mediocrity, as growing economic powerhouse.
While, India needs 125 new universities per year for next five years to meet the demand, we have come up with our latest edition of 'Top 25 Private/Deemed Universities in India Survey.' We hope our efforts to create this exhaustive blue print elucidating the ideas about Private/ Deemed Universities help the student across the country to make accurate decisions about their study destinations. On the cover, we feature Xavier University Bhubaneswar, which had been conceived with a vision to be recognized as a world class learning Institution.
Enjoy Reading.
