Transformational initiatives to promote R&D led QS Ranking success, HRD Minister

NEW DELHI, JUNE 8: As many as 24 universities from India have been ranked in this year’s QS World Universities Ranking of which seven have improved their rank, nine have retained their position and five are newly-ranked. The Union Minister of Human Resource Development Prakash Javadekar has attributed the success as a result of transformational initiatives undertaken in promoting research and innovation.

“The positive performance recorded by India’s most prominent institutions is symptomatic of a successful year for the country’s higher education system,” Javadekar said in a statement.

In the QS World Universities Ranking, nine Indian institutions have been individually ranked in the top-500 as against six last year. Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore, rises 20 places to 170th; 17 of India’s 24 ranked universities improved their rank for Academic Reputation, while 13 improved their rank for Employer Reputation.

Congratulating the Indian Institutes which have been ranked among the top 500 institutions in the QS World Universities Ranking 2019, the Minister said, “It is very encouraging to note that the position of Indian institutions is improving in world rankings. This is the direct result of the transformational initiatives undertaken in promoting research and innovation. We, at Ministry of HRD, will ensure the further spread of the research and innovation culture, which will bring laurels to Indian Institutions.”

“With government's flagship initiatives like UchhatarAvishkarYojana, which is industry-academia partnership for finding solutions by teams of faculty and students of IITs to customised requirements of the industries; GIAN -foreign faculties coming to India to teach courses in specialised topics to students in Indian Higher Educational institutions; Smart India Hackathon, a competition to find digital solutions to various problems faced by the people; and IMPRINT-promotion of research & innovation activities in 10 domains; coupled with more funds for research infrastructure through HEFA and launch of Prime Minister’s Research Fellowships are shoring up the performance Indian Institutions which is reflected in the latest QS World Universities Ranking” Javadekar said.

Congratulating the faculty and students of IISc Bangalore for being ranked world’s second-highest in the “research impact per faculty member category”, Javadekar said due to the impetus being given to Research by the current Government, the Research impact per faculty member has become the strength of Indian institution.