Assessing the quality of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in India is challenging. The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), initiated by the Government of India in 2016, is a rational approach to address these challenges.
NIRF: Overview and Evolution
- Started with 4 categories in 2016: Universities, Engineering, Management, Pharmacy.
- Expanded to 16 categories by NIRF 2024, including:
- Universities, Colleges, Research, Medical, Dental, Law, Agriculture, Innovation, Open University, Skill University, etc.
- NIRF 2024 assessed 10,845 applications from 6,517 HEIs (Higher Education Institutes).
NIRF 2024 Highlights
- Southern states dominate rankings: Tamil Nadu (22 universities in top 100).
- Limited representation from Northeast India, with only three universities (Gauhati, Tezpur, Mizoram) in the top 100.
- Private-deemed universities (38%) perform better compared to public and state universities.
Key Aspects of University Rankings
- Parameters and Weightage
- Five broad criteria:
- Teaching, Learning & Resources (30%)
- Research & Professional Practice (30%)
- Graduation Outcomes (20%)
- Outreach & Inclusivity (10%)
- Perception (10%)
- Five broad criteria:
- Student and Faculty Factors
- Student Intake and Outcomes: Seat demand, retention, and employment/progression.
- Faculty Adequacy and Competency:
- Teacher-student ratio (15:1).
- Faculty qualifications, including PhDs, and balanced experience levels.
- Online Education: Adoption of MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) and credit integration.
- Infrastructure and Resources
- Expenditure exclusively for academic infrastructure is crucial.
- Vacant seats incur penalties in rankings.
- Research and Innovation
- Emphasis on:
- PhD output, quality publications, and patents.
- Research funding and consultancy income.
- Social Parameters
- Inclusivity through gender balance (50% female students), diversity in admissions, and support for disadvantaged groups.
- Facilities for physically challenged students.
- Perception Score
- Feedback from academicians and stakeholders.
Challenges in Indian HEIs
- Regional imbalance in top-ranked universities.
- Variations in governance, funding, and infrastructure across states.
- Low ranking of central and state universities compared to private counterparts.
Strategic Measures for HEIs
- Enhance Teaching Quality and Research Output
- Focus on faculty recruitment and training.
- Incentives for quality publications and patents.
- Promote Inclusivity and Social Responsibility
- Scholarships and fee waivers for disadvantaged groups.
- Improved facilities for women and differently-abled individuals.
- Encourage Academic and Industrial Partnerships
- Collaborations with industries for research funding and consultancy.
- Implement NEP 2020 Effectively
- Adopt flexible courses and promote regional languages.
- Regional Focus
- Targeted funding and development plans for underrepresented regions, such as the Northeast and central India.
The NIRF is a vital tool for assessing and improving the quality of higher education in India.
Proactive governance, strategic investment, and adherence to NEP 2020 goals are crucial for bridging regional disparities and uplifting HEIs across the country.
