Latest news with #NationalInstitutionalRankingFramework
The Hindu
21 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
State universities in a fix as T.N. continues to oppose National Education Policy 2020
Higher educational institutions in Tamil Nadu are still clueless about whether or not they need to adhere to the guidelines of National Education Policy 2020 even as the 2025-26 academic year is set to start soon, going by the views expressed by heads of higher educational institutions. Central government institutions and deemed to be universities have apparently taken a lead in adopting NEP 2020 guidelines, leaving behind the State-funded institutions, and are believed in a better position to secure higher rating under National Institutional Ranking Framework. Adoption of NEP 2020 guidelines helps secure better NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council) rating as well, say heads of higher educational institutions. In their view, the opposition of Tamil Nadu to NEP 2020 is mainly on the counts of three-language policy (at the school level) and structural changes made to the higher educational programmes. The reasoning put forth is that the NEP encompasses three-language policy, which mandates the learning of two Indian languages (not necessarily Hindi) along with English. According to P.K. Ponnuswamy, former Vice-Chancellor of Madras and Madurai Kamaraj Universities, three-language policy is not a necessity for Tamil Nadu. 'English along with the local language will suffice. Yet, schools could be given the freedom to teach as many languages suiting necessity,' he said. 'While it is good to have a national policy on education, States, too, should be allowed to have their say, factoring in cultural variations and diverse history,' he said. Nevertheless, experts also point out that learning multiple languages will promote multilingualism and expand students' academic and career opportunities. 'Students in private schools already follow the three-language policy, and, hence, government schools should also follow suit. The policy is a good initiative to promote multilingualism,' said E. Balagurusamy, former Vice-Chancellor of Anna University and former Member, Union Public Service Commission. The NEP 2020 fostered creative and critical thinking of the students and promotes research capabilities in higher education. The emphasis on vocational training would help the youth develop social competence, self-esteem and self-confidence, he said. Academics have been expressing concern about the future of education scenario in Tamil Nadu in the wake of the Central government insisting on adherence to NEP 2020, and withholding funds for improving the quality of school education. 'The reality is that the five pillars of NEP 2020: access, equity, quality, affordability and accountability, have not been realised as yet,' M. Chidambaram, former Director of National Institute of Technology, Tiruchi, said. Quality consciousness was the need of the hour. The system hitherto had failed to infuse confidence into students from lower strata of society. The faculty should be skilled but they were given a raw deal with no increments, he claimed. The NEP 2020, in the first phase, should bring about a level-playing field, he emphasised.
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Maharaja's College @150: Time to reclaim the 'regal' glory
Highs & lows There was a time when the campus was celebrated for its excellence in every sphere. 'It was a campus where healthy socio-political dialogues happened,' recalls Yusuf K A, former registrar of Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit in Kalady. 'Political differences used to be settled through fierce dialogues and discussions. I remember after arriving on the campus as a young student, we felt as if being beckoned by the positive energy left behind by the stalwarts who had walked the soil before us.' Former Nabard chief general manager C P Mohan, who studied at the college from 1972 to 1975, believes he was 'fortunate' to have experienced its 'golden era'. 'Those days, it was every student's dream to study at Maharaja's. Those were the times when several literary doyens visited the campus for kavi arangus (poetry sessions) and street plays. Academics, literature, arts and culture thrived. It helped build a living society.' Prasanna K, former principal of Manimalakunnu Government College, who studied at Maharaja's for 7 years and later taught economics there for 12 years, gushes similar views. 'The years that I spent at the college as a student and then as a teacher were the best,' she says. 'I saw raw talents blossom. They got honed and polished. The campus was not all about academic excellence, but making a better person out of the students through positive interaction among the peers.' However, over time, the campus lost some of its sheen. Instead of headlines celebrating the college's achievements — including high ranks in the National Institutional Ranking Framework — stories of campus violence and administrative mismanagement began to dominate the media. 'Sad but true,' says Prasanna. To reclaim the glory, she suggests involving former teachers as mentors. 'I am not a big fan of politics. But that being said, it is always good for the students to have political awareness. All political parties should come together for the good of the institution and welfare of students,' she adds. Today, many students appear more involved in furthering the interests of their political parties. Studies should not take the backseat. This applies to all colleges.' Mohan believes this is all part of a cycle. 'As times change, it brings with it a lot of changes. And when changes happen, we can say that degradation also happens along with,' he says. 'Changes are cyclic. It is just a wave. This one, too, will pass. And the onus for it lies on the government and the authorities concerned.' According to Yusuf, political strife existed in the past as well. 'However, today, with the advent of social media, instead of the positive things happening on the campus, all the negatives are being highlighted,' he says. 'Also, you must note that, earlier, the cream of the crop used to seek admission to Maharaja's. Now, students have more options to choose from – institutions with much better infrastructure and placement opportunities.' Filmmaker Amal Neerad, an alumnus, slams the government: 'How can an institution not undergo degradation when nothing is being done for its betterment?' he fumes. He is particularly upset about parts of the campus being 'chopped' and allocated for other development projects. Censuring the neglect, he adds: 'This is a campus that has the potential to become the Harvard of Kerala or India.'
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Report paints poor picture of state's higher edu sector'
T'puram: Contrary to the state govt's claims, the higher education sector in Kerala performed poorly in the 2025 NITI Aayog report . The report presented a dismal picture of the higher education institutions, especially state universities , Save University Campaign Committee (SUCC) has said.. The think-tank said that the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) report highlighted that the density of universities and colleges in the state were far behind that of other states in south India. Moreover, only four of the total 14 universities in the state featured in the best 100 list. SUCC said that the state govt's attempt to reduce the universities into govt departments by taking away their autonomy would further harm the higher education sector in Kerala. "For the improvement of the higher education sector, the quality of state universities should improve significantly. The NITI Aayog report underlines the fact that the excellence of a few institutions like IIT and IISER is not enough to improve the quality of the sector as a whole," the committee said. The percentage of students between the age group of 18 to 23 pursuing higher education is 28.4% nationally. While it is 47% in Tamil Nadu and 43% in Himachal Pradesh, it is 41.3% in Kerala and 40% in Telangana. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch Bitcoin và Ethereum - Không cần ví! IC Markets BẮT ĐẦU NGAY Undo The figures, unlike what the higher education minister R Bindu claims, were not inspiring, SUCC said. Moreover, contrary to the claims of the state govt, the best student-teacher ratio in the country is not in Kerala. It is Tamil Nadu, with a ratio of 1:14, compared to 1:15 in Kerala. SUCC also said the govt should allow the universities to function as autonomous institutions and grow independently. The attempts to usurp the autonomy of state universities would only further weaken the institutions, they added.
Indian Express
14-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
UPSC's new Chairperson Ajay Kumar: BTech from IIT-Kanpur to PhD in US – a look at his educational journey
Dr Ajay Kumar is appointed as the new UPSC chairperson. He succeeds Preeti Sudan, whose tenure ended on April 29, 2025. Before her, Manoj Soni briefly held the position but resigned in June 2024 due to personal reasons. Dr Ajay Kumar, a 1985-batch IAS officer of the Kerala cadre, has served as India's Defence Secretary from August 23, 2019, to October 31, 2022, before being appointed as the UPSC chairperson. According to reports, during his tenure, he played a key role in major defence reforms, including the Agniveer recruitment scheme, the creation of the Chief of Defence Staff, and the corporatisation of ordnance factories. Ajay Kumar began his academic journey at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, where he earned his BTech in Electrical Engineering. Notably, IIT Kanpur is ranked 278 globally, as per the QS World University Rankings 2024. Additionally, the premier engineering institute holds the 5th spot in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2024 among engineering colleges in India. Post his undergraduate education, Kumar pursued higher studies in the United States. He earned a Master's degree in Development Economics, followed by a PhD in Business Administration from the Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota. The University of Minnesota is placed within the 150–200 band in the QS World Rankings 2024, and its business school is globally respected for research and policy-oriented studies. Over nearly four decades in service, Dr Kumar has held key roles including Defence Secretary of India. He played a central role in launching innovations like iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) and in integrating private startups with India's defence ecosystem. He also served in senior roles in the Ministry of Electronics and IT previously.
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
NIRF Flaws Hold Lessons for TN's Higher Education Ranking System
During 2014-2015, none of India's institutions, not even the IITs, IIMs, or NITs, featured in global rankings such as Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) and Times Higher Education (THE). In response, the Union govt launched the National Institutional Ranking Framework ( NIRF ), modelled on international benchmarks such as research output, student-faculty ratio, and peer perception. The idea was simple: improving performance on these fronts would eventually lift Indian institutions into the global league tables. And to a degree, it worked. Today, Indian higher education institutions appear in QS and THE Nadu, which prides itself on being one of the top destinations for higher education in India, has proposed a state institutional ranking framework. It's therefore important to recall the criticisms levelled against NIRF, so the new framework doesn't repeat old mistakes. One question is whether a ranking system modelled on global frameworks is relevant in the Indian context. NIRF focuses on research output, has a bias towards wealthy, English-speaking institutions, and an undue reliance on subjective reputation. In doing so, it overlooks institutions that uplift first-generation learners without necessarily boasting elite research research obsession has opened the door to gaming the system — inflated publication counts, citation rings, and placement exaggerations. There's enough evidence of institutions incentivising faculty to mass-produce papers, even if it means publishing in journals only to satisfy the metrics of research output. A 2020 audit found a substantial number of Indian academic papers appeared in dubious journals. This is a direct consequence of the 'publish or perish' culture. The rise of 'authorship marketplaces', where research papers are sold for ₹10,000-₹15,000, is a matter of concern, especially when research integrity is compromised. When scholarship is reduced to a transaction, the foundation of academic credibility is compromise is evident in the growing number of article retractions, even from reputable journals. Publishing houses continue to profit, often accepting substandard work in exchange for hefty article processing charges. Instead of strengthening learning outcomes and research quality, resources are being siphoned off into global academic profit machines. A serious effort to promote genuine research is necessary, but stage-managed output makes it difficult. Consider the absurdity of schoolteachers judged by their PhD rather than their ability to engage children. Higher education institutions are falling into the same trap. We need mentors, not paper-pushers chasing metrics. Faculty who shape student learning are sidelined in hiring and appraisal because they haven't produced a pile of low-quality message are we sending when dubious research is rewarded over genuine student engagement? It suggests that gaming the system is more valuable than meaningful teaching. The obsession with rankings ends up reducing institutional credibility to a numbers game, driven more by manipulation than improvement. Ranking becomes the ultimate validity, leading to just metric manipulations rather than genuine improvement. Many institutes inflate faculty numbers just before ranking submissions, rushing through temporary hires to improve student-faculty ratios or showcase higher qualifications. This is just one part of a larger criticism advanced against NIRF, which the SIRF should address, is the unfair comparison between legacy institutions and newer ones. It's hardly a level playing field. Most metrics, including placement numbers and median salaries, are susceptible to manipulation. Yet, despite numerous complaints, not a single institution has faced consequences for data misreporting. The court stayed NIRF 2025 after flagging glaring discrepancies between institutional self-assessment reports and data submitted to lack of employable skills among graduates is one of the country's major concerns when it comes to education, and yet, NIRF overlooks the efforts of institutions to bridge this gap through skill development. The Union govt promotes NIRF so actively that it is a prerequisite to enjoy govt funding for research projects and eligibility to apply for deemed university status. India has the world's largest youth population. If we fail to equip them with the right skills and mindset, it would be a missed opportunity. Our focus must shift to preparing students to be industry-ready professionals and bold entrepreneurs. Skilling is central to all these paths, alongside broader values such as democratic citizenship, critical thinking, collaboration, and social foundation for the proposed SIRF must focus on what society needs, rely on indicators that are objective, verifiable, and quantifiable, and leave no room for manipulation. The road ahead won't be easy, but no great victory comes without a great battle.(The writer is Vice-Chairman of the TN State Council for Higher Education)Email your feedback with name and address to
