Latest news with #NIRF
Indian Express
14 hours ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Alok Kumar Rai to assume charge as IIM-Calcutta's director on July 30
Dr Alok Kumar Rai will take charge as director of the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta on July 30 at 12:30 PM. Rai was previously the vice chancellor of the University of Lucknow. Before Rai, professor Saibal Chattopadhyay was the director of the Institute. The IIM-Calcutta did not have a regular full-term director for nearly two years. The appointment of a full-time director comes in the wake of the arrest of a second-year student in a rape case. Before becoming the Vice-Chancellor of Lucknow University, Rai was a management professor at Banaras Hindu University (BHU). He also held several positions on various high-level committees and panels. Under Rai's leadership, Lucknow University became the first university in Uttar Pradesh to receive an A++ grade accreditation from NAAC. Additionally, it was granted Category-I status by the UGC and ranked among the top 100 institutions in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), achieving 32nd place among State Public Universities. Additionally, the IIM Calcutta and ed-tech platform Imarticus Learning have announced the launch of an executive programme in Private Equity and Venture Capital. The course is designed for finance professionals and entrepreneurs. The seven-month live online programme will blend academic theory with real-world insights from IIM Calcutta's finance faculty and seasoned private equity and venture capital veterans. This course will help finance professionals and entrepreneurs navigate the changing investment landscape. The programme will have core and advanced topics, including deal sourcing, valuation, financial modelling, fundraising, portfolio management, and exit strategies. Keeping pace with the evolving trends, the curriculum will cover the entire investment cycle with digital and regulatory aspects, stated the press release.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- The Hindu
Student suicide highlights ICC failures in HEIs; a case for campus safety in NIRF rankings
The father of a 20-year-old student of Odisha who recently committed suicide held members of her college's Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) 'solely responsible' for his daughter's death by self-immolation. He alleged that the ICC members prepared a 'biased report' and blamed the student following her complaint of sexual harassment by a professor. He claimed that based on the ICC report, the principal told his daughter that she was at fault and may be punished for making a false allegation against the teacher who is the head of the Education department. The second-year Integrated student of Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore immolated herself shortly after coming out of the Principal's chamber. 'I hope the system will improve following the death of my daughter,' he said. Though the ICC is mandated by the University Grants Commission, in many of the institutions they are barely functional. Many students and activists make a case that social aspects such as student safety should be an important parameter for ranking HEIs so there is some pressure on the governing bodies and managements to act. The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF)'s current methodology makes it mandatory for the Universities to have a functional ICC, but this doesn't influence the rankings. 'The ICC should be an integral part of these ranking systems. It should matter a lot how the oppressed – including women – are treated in our educational institutions. Do they feel safe? Do they have equal opportunities?' questioned Geeta Kumari, former JNU Students Union president and a Gender Sensitisation Committee Against Sexual Harassment (GSCASH) student representative. GSCASH, a body established to address sexual grievances, was replaced with ICC on the campus in 2017. Ms. Kumari served in GSCASH from 2015 to 2017. Among the various parameters of the annual ranking system, Teaching, Learning and Resources, Research and Professional Practices, Graduation Outcome, and Peer Perception play a critical role but student safety aspects such as a functional ICC are often not taken into consideration. In a quick and random survey, three highly ranked HEIs had several lacunae in ICC functioning — with many students unaware of the very existence of these committees meant to safeguard their dignity. A skewed system The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), which ranked second in the University rankings of NIRF, replaced the Gender Sensitisation Committee Against Sexual Harassment (GSCASH) with the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) in 2017, but students attest that the change doesn't make much difference on the ground and the campus remains unsafe for students. 'The university administration disbanded the GSCASH and constituted the ICC, citing the UGC's standardization policy. But the move actually came in the wake of multiple sexual harassment allegations against faculty members that year,' said Parvathy P, a PhD scholar at the Centre for Law and Governance, JNU. She mentioned that the current structure of the ICC is biased against the students. 'The current ICC has nine members—six nominated by the administration and three student representatives elected through campus polls. Despite this, the structure remains skewed in favour of the university management, which continues to hold significant control over all decision-making,' said Ms. Parvathy. Recalling a recent case, Ms. Parvathy said, 'A UG student faced sexual harassment in 2024, but the administration failed to follow a transparent process to ensure justice. When she staged a sit-in protest at the university gate, demanding action, the administration imposed a fine on her instead of acting against the perpetrators. She was ultimately forced to pay the fine to continue her studies.' 'ICC is filled with people who do not understand gender and its complexities. The first chairperson of ICC made comments such as 'umar ho gayi shaadi bache karo' to female students when they were protesting,' Ms. Kumari said. Banaras Hindu University (BHU) at Varanasi that is ranked fifth in the University rankings of NIRF has an ICC. 'We are completely unaware of such a body in the campus. Even the official BHU website does not list ICC members,' said a BHU research scholar on condition of anonymity. IIT-BHU, which had a noted sexual harassment case in Nov 1, 2023 , has no elected student representative in its ICC. The Uttar Pradesh police arrested the three accused on December 31. The research scholar said there is no security verification at the gates of BHU, and anyone from the public can enter freely. 'The three accused in the case were reportedly involved in other incidents of molestation on campus. It shows that little has changed on the ground. What has now become routine is that each time a sexual harassment case surfaces, there's an immediate wave of student protests. But within days, the outrage fades, and the administration carries on as if nothing happened,' he said. 'Dissatisfied with functioning' Mehina Fathima Shihab, student member of the ICC, Delhi University, main campus, which ranked ninth in the NIRF ranking, revealed that she isn't happy with the committee's functioning. 'The constitution of the committee itself is a problem, as ICCs are mostly nominated bodies with little or no autonomy. The committee is not fully elected by the stakeholders of the university, and its nominated members often show a loyalty towards the institution rather than upholding the rights of the student community,' she said, reiterating that the ICCs of all of the DU campuses have room for improvement. The body often faces internal criticism from the elected student members over decisions taken by the committee. 'There are fundamental conflicts between elected members and nominated members, as elected student representatives want to make sure that the campus is safer for everyone. Since not all the nominated members are democratic, conflicts take place whenever we meet. The demand for GSCASH is still very relevant as it can function much better than the ICC,' said Ms. Shihab. GSCASH was an independent body proctor with no interference from the college administration, whereas ICC has become an administrative tool, where confidentiality is compromised, she says. Ms. Shihab also disagreed with the NIRF ranking scores as its structure does not fully assess the safety and security of students within the campus premises. 'The NIRF ranking scales are faulty when it comes to assessing the social aspects of an institution. The Delhi University campus is very unsafe for women. Sexual harassment cases are being reported on a monthly basis. The UGC regulation, which constituted ICC, clearly mentions the list of responsibilities of institutions in making their campus safer for women, and most of them are ignored, including basic measures like ensuring campus spaces are well-lit,' she said. But the University's faculty members say that the DU's Miranda House has an effective ICC. 'I will not claim that all of our students know about the ICC but it has increased awareness,' said Abha Dev Habib, Associate Professor, Miranda House, Delhi University. While the functioning of the ICCs differs from college to college affiliated to the University, Miranda House is on the right track, Abha Dev Habib said. 'Our ICC has three student members. We ask every class of students to give representation and these representatives come together to elect the members. We have been receiving a lot of sexual harassment complaints and a strong ICC is something we do not compromise,' Ms. Habib said. Better implementation 'Many universities conduct superficial inquiries simply to silence the survivor. Instead of ensuring justice, some ICC members indulge in character assassination, prioritising the university's reputation over the victim's rights. In such cases, the ICC becomes a mere puppet of the administration. Its fundamental duties are often diluted or ignored altogether,' Abdul Wahab, State Secretary of SFI, Uttar Pradesh said. He also alleged that universities don't care to conduct elections to select student members into the ICC and often function with nominated faculty members. 'According to UGC norms, ICCs must include elected student members, faculty, and external representatives from NGOs or activists working in the field. But in reality, most universities either handpick members or fail to maintain a functional ICC. How can an entirely nominated body function impartially?' he asked. The ICCs are not supposed to function as a punitive body, but rather as a body that ensures sexual harassment does not happen within campus premises. 'Gender sensitization workshops take place once every two years. There is no consistency, and its reach is quite limited. NIRF rankings often overlook the functionality and a mere presence is enough to secure a good rank,' Ms. Shihab said. Attempts were made to reach out to the managements of Sharda University, JNU and BHU and IIT-BHU via phone calls and email. There has been no response. (Those in distress or having suicidal thoughts are encouraged to seek help and counselling by calling the helpline numbers here)
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Punjab Agricultural University ranked among world's top 100 agri institutions
Ludhiana: Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, has earned a major global distinction by featuring in the EduRank 2025 list of the world's Top 100 agricultural institutions. Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, has earned a major global distinction by featuring in the EduRank 2025 list of the world's Top 100 agricultural institutions. The university has secured 93rd position in the EduRank 2025 list and is the only state agricultural university from India to feature in the elite list, which was compiled from an evaluation of 4,407 institutions worldwide. EduRank, an independent global ranking platform, evaluates over 14,000 institutions based on measurable indicators such as research output, citation impact and academic influence. PAU vice chancellor Satbir Singh Gosal attributed the university's strong ranking to its research output, which is a key factor in the EduRank evaluation. He highlighted that the rankings were based on both the number of research papers produced and their global citation impact. 'This recognition shows that PAU is on the right path in agricultural research,' said Gosal. PAU's entry into the Top 100 is a major achievement for India, with the university standing alongside only one other institution from India in this category — the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) in New Delhi, which ranked 47th. PAU is the sole state agricultural university to make the list, highlighting its growing international prominence. There are 64 state agricultural universities (SAUs), seven deemed universities, and three Central Agricultural Universities in India, as recognised by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). This makes a total of 74 agricultural universities in India. This recognition adds to a series of national accolades for PAU, which was ranked the No. 1 state agricultural university in India by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) for two consecutive years, 2023 and 2024. Additionally, it was named the top state agricultural university by the Indian Institutional Ranking Framework (IIRF) 2025. The VC expressed pride in the achievement, saying that the global recognition reflects the university's commitment to agricultural innovation and scientific excellence. 'This is a moment of national pride and will help expand our international visibility and foster collaborations worldwide,' he said. PAU registrar Rishi Pal Singh also praised the university's global ranking, describing it as a validation of PAU's leadership in agricultural research and education. 'The PAU's consistent national and international recognition demonstrates our forward-looking vision and commitment to excellence,' he added. In a further boost to its international reputation, VC Gosal revealed that PAU is one of the two agricultural institutions from India selected by BRICS for research collaboration, which will open new avenues for funding and international partnerships.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
LU joins Agenda 2030 with new cell for SDGs
Lucknow: Lucknow University has established a Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) cell which will be a dedicated unit focused on integrating the principles of the United Nations' SDGs into various aspects of university life. It will act as a central hub to promote awareness, research, and action related to sustainability in university-wide activities. "There is growing global expectation from institutions of higher learning to act as pivotal contributors in achieving the 17 SDGs outlined by the United Nations' 2030 Agenda," said dean academics Prof Geetanjali Mishra while adding, "The inclusion of sustainability in national (NIRF) and international rankings makes it imperative that we develop institutional mechanisms to align our academic, research, and outreach activities with these goals. "
Time of India
5 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
PAU ranked among world's top 100 agricultural schools
Ludhiana: Punjab Agricultural University has earned a global distinction by securing the 93rd rank in agricultural sciences in the latest EduRank 2025 list of the world's top 100 agricultural institutions. Among 4,407 institutions worldwide assessed in this category, PAU is the only state agricultural university from India to feature on the list, underscoring its growing international stature. EduRank, an independent global ranking platform, evaluates more than 14,000 institutions based on measurable indicators such as research output, citation impact and academic influence. PAU's entry into the top 100 is a powerful indicator of its rising prominence in global agricultural research and education. Only 22 institutions from Asia made it to the global top 100 in agricultural sciences. Thirteen of these are from China, followed by Japan (2), and one each from Israel, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan and India. India is represented by just two agricultural institutions in this category: Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, at 47th position, and PAU at 93rd. While IARI is a national institute under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), PAU is the sole full-fledged state agricultural university to receive this global recognition. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Indonesia: New Container Houses (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search Ads Search Now Undo PAU ranks 20th in Asia with China Agricultural University being on the top, ranking 6th in the world. This achievement follows a series of national accolades for PAU. The university was ranked no. 1 among all state agricultural universities in India by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) of the ministry of education for two consecutive years, 2023 and 2024. In addition, the Indian Institutional Ranking Framework (IIRF) 2025, a prominent private-sector agency, also named PAU the top state agricultural university in the country. The vice-chancellor of PAU, Satbir Singh Gosal, said this international ranking reflects the commitment, scientific strength and tireless work ethic of the PAU fraternity. He noted that such global recognition is not only a milestone for the university but also a moment of national pride. He said these rankings will help PAU expand its international visibility and foster new collaborations with research institutions and industry leaders around the world. He said the rankings might also aid international and national funding for further research in the university. For Rishi Pal Singh, the registrar, the global ranking is a validation of the university's academic leadership and research-driven ecosystem. He said PAU's consistent national and international recognition reflects its forward-looking vision, commitment to excellence, and the collective efforts of faculty, scientists, students and staff in advancing agricultural innovation and education. Founded in 1962, PAU has been at the forefront of India's agricultural transformation. As the cradle of the Green Revolution, it has shaped the country's food security landscape. Today, it continues to lead with innovations in climate-resilient farming, sustainable agriculture, and capacity building for the agri-food sector, the VC stated. BOX WHO SCORES WHAT Only 22 institutions from Asia made it to the global top 100 in agricultural sciences Thirteen of these are from China, followed by Japan (2), and one each from Israel, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan and India India is represented by just two agricultural institutions in this category: Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, at 47th position, and PAU at 93rd While IARI is a national institute under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), PAU is the sole full-fledged state agricultural university to receive this global recognition. PAU ranks 20th in Asia with China Agricultural University being on the top, ranking 6th in the world WHO RANKED AGRI INSTITUTIONS EduRank, an independent global ranking platform, evaluates more than 14,000 institutions based on measurable indicators such as research output, citation impact and academic influence. PAU's entry into the top 100 is a powerful indicator of its rising prominence in global agricultural research and education PAU's PAST LAURELS The university was ranked no. 1 among all state agricultural universities in India by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) of the ministry of education for two consecutive years, 2023 and 2024 In addition, the Indian Institutional Ranking Framework (IIRF) 2025, a prominent private-sector agency, also named PAU the top state agricultural university in the country VC SPEAK The international ranking reflects the commitment, scientific strength and tireless work ethic of the PAU fraternity. Such global recognition is not only a milestone for the university, but also a moment of national pride. These rankings will help PAU expand its international visibility and foster new collaborations with research institutions and industry leaders around the world Satbir Singh Gosal, VC, Punjab Agricultural University
