Recently, the Times Higher Education (THE), formerly known as The Times Higher Education Supplement (THES), unveiled its World University Rankings for the year 2022. THE is a reputable magazine that focuses primarily on news and updates regarding higher education. Prior to this announcement, Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) had published the QS World University Rankings 2022.
About THE Rankings
The THE rankings provide comprehensive insights into four primary areas of university operations: teaching, research, knowledge transfer, and international outlook. A tradition since the year 2004, these rankings deliver reliable data for those interested in assessing the status and scope of higher education worldwide.
Performance of Indian Universities
In these recent rankings, India demonstrated notable participation, housing 35 out of the top 1,000 universities globally. This achievement marks India’s second-highest tally in these rankings till date, with the highest being 36 in the preceding year. Among the Indian institutes, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), followed by IIT Ropar and JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, performed exceptionally well.
Global Rankings Overview
On a global scale, the University of Oxford retained its position at the helm, topping the rankings for the sixth consecutive year. A highlight of this year’s announcements was Tsinghua University from mainland China, which became the first Asian university to secure a position within the top 20, according to the current ranking methodology initiated in 2011. From a country perspective, the United States led the list with 183 institutions making the cut.
Indian Initiatives in Higher Education
India has been proactive in implementing several initiatives to elevate the quality and status of its higher education. Notable among these is the Institutions of Eminence (IoE) Scheme – a platform for establishing or upgrading 20 Institutions (10 each from the public and private sectors) to become world-class teaching and research institutions, aptly termed ‘Institutions of Eminence’.
National Education Policy 2020
Another significant step towards reshaping India’s education landscape was the introduction of the National Education Policy (NEP) in 2020. Aimed at bringing about numerous changes at all levels – from school to college, the NEP is a robust attempt to transform India into a global knowledge powerhouse.
Other Noteworthy Initiatives
Further initiatives include the IMPRINT (Impacting Research Innovation and Technology), which marks the first-ever joint initiative by Pan-IIT and IISc. This venture seeks to develop a fresh engineering education policy and a strategic roadmap for research to tackle significant engineering and technological challenges. The country has also launched the Uchhatar Avishkar Yojana (UAY), aimed at fostering an innovative mindset among students and faculty within premier technological institutes.
