NEW DELHI: India is nowhere in the recently
released world university rankings. The three rankings — Times Higher
Education World University Rankings, Academic Ranking of World
Universities compiled by Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and QS World
University Rankings — are just out, but none of the Indian varsities
have made it to the top 100.

While overall the US dominates all the three rankings, the QS rankings have China, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Israel, Taiwan and even Thailand
ahead of India with IIT- Bombay in the 187th position. In the other two
rankings, (Times Higher Education World University Rankings and
Academic Ranking of World Universities) India finds no place in the top
200, but Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore and Turkey bag decent places in between the two rankings.

B K Mathur, dean, planning and co-ordination, IIT Kharagpur,
however, dismisses the world university rankings as a subject for
"coffee table discussions". But at a time when India is being hyped as a
future knowledge economy and the country is emerging as the new
academic destination globally, isn't international benchmarking in
education important for India? Mathur stresses, "It is not ranking but
word of mouth that conveys our academic excellence to students. We have
50,000 alumni across the world, they are our ambassadors."


However, agreeing that the world is watching us, Narendra Jadhav,
member, Planning Commission, says, "Though the international ranking
methodology is erroneous, Indian universities
need to be open to international benchmarking. What they lack is a
proper 'management of information system'. Also, there needs to be
greater awareness among universities to at least give out accurate
information so that it reflects their true academic status."

S K
Barua, director, IIM-A, stresses that international benchmarking is
becoming important and with the world becoming smaller and global
student mobility increasing, "we need to realise that if we go up the
ranking as a nation, education is going to give us inflow of foreign
exchange. Besides, I believe that we have the potential to excel and if
we are keen India can become the Mecca of higher education."

Despite India's skepticism, rankings are becoming an important determinant. As Jonathan Adams, director of research evaluation, Thomson Reuters
(Times Higher Education has tied up with Thomson Reuters this year),
points out, "Well developed and information-rich rankings can be a
helpful guide to students about relative standing of universities
worldwide."

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-doesnt-figure-in-world-top-100-universities/articleshow/6569296.cms