The Times Higher Education (THE) recently unveiled its World University Rankings for 2020. This is the 16th edition of this prestigious ranking system, which includes over 1,300 universities from 92 different countries worldwide. This year, India made a significant impact, with 56 of its institutions making their way onto the list – an increase from last year’s 49. This makes India the fifth most represented country in the rankings, and it stands third in Asia, trailing only behind Japan and China.
The Top Position Holders
The University of Oxford succeeded in maintaining its grip on the top spot in these rankings for the fourth consecutive year. Meanwhile, in India, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore came out as the leading Indian university on the chart. However, its position fell from the 251-300 group in 2019 to the 301-350 bracket in 2020. Sharing this position with IISc is the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Ropar, which successfully debuted in the 2020 list. This is the first time since 2012 that no Indian University has held a position in the top 300 of the rankings.
Characteristic Features of Indian Universities
According to THE, the best Indian institutions tend to boast strong scores for teaching environment and industry income. However, when evaluated on their international outlook, these universities generally don’t fare well. The Indian government has clear ambitions to enhance the global standing of its top universities and hopes to attract foreign students, academics, and research collaboration. If these aspirations are to be realized, high levels of investment will be necessary in order to compete globally.
Table of Facts
| Top Country | Top University | Most Represented Country | Top Indian University |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | University of Oxford | India (5th place) | IISc Bangalore, IIT Ropar |
| Number of Represented Countries | Total Universities Ranked | Indian Universities in List | Fall in Ranking for IISc Bangalore |
| 92 | 1300+ | 56 | From 251-300 group (2019) to 301-350 bracket (2020) |
The Road Ahead
The impressive representation of Indian institutions in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2020 is certainly encouraging. However, it also highlights areas where improvement is needed, particularly in terms of maintaining an international outlook. It’s clear that for Indian universities to continue climbing these rankings and compete on a global scale, considerable investment, innovation and international collaboration will be essential.