IITs may compete as single unit for place in global rankings

New Delhi: All the 13 IITs may compete as a single unit at the global level for a place among the best in the global ranking list. Giving an indication in this regard, higher education secretary Ashok Thakur said the idea is to position the IITs as a single unit much like the IIT brand which has become an entity in itself for finding a place among the top three best institutes the world-over.[caption id=“attachment_1344235” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  IIT Delhi. AFP[/caption] International ranking agencies such as Times Higher Education and QS World University Ranking would be informed accordingly, he said. Central universities and other institutes could follow on how the IITs position themselves in the ranking list, he said. Thakur’s comments came after a “retreat” of the IIT directors in New Delhi today attended by HRD Minister MM Pallam Raju and some other public sector enterprise heads. Thus far, none of the Indian institutes feature among the top 100 in the world ranking. Panjab University is the highest ranked Indian institution clubbed in the group of universities ranked between 226-250 by Times in its latest report. The absence of the IITs in the global ranking list has been a matter of intense debate in various forums despite their academic reputations. President Pranab Mukherjee too has expressed concerns over these institutes not featuring in the top league. Thakur had earlier said that nodal professors will be engaged by IITs to coordinate with international ranking agencies to help place the country’s institutes among the best. The standing committee of IITs has also constituted a committee to guide the IITs and other institutes as well on improving their rankings. PTI