Latest news with #WorldUniversityRanking
The Hindu
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Anna University to ‘restructure' PG courses with poor student patronage
Anna University has begun the process of 'restructuring' postgraduate (PG) courses that have poor student patronage. At least 10 programmes, where student enrolment dwindled to less than half the sanctioned strength, will be suspended in their current form without altering the total sanctioned strength, university sources told The Hindu. This will mean that these programmes will either be merged with other popular PG courses and the sanctioned strength will be transferred to those courses, or the programmes will be suspended and the strength in the undergraduate (UG) level will be increased. This is being planned such that the total intake of students is not changed. Consultations with various departments and stakeholders are under way. After a consensus is arrived upon, the university will submit a proposal before the Convenor Committee for approval. Citing an example, a university official said an ME computer science engineering (CSE) programme was being offered with a sanctioned strength of 24 students, while another ME CSE (specialisation in big data analytics) programme had a sanctioned strength of 12. Due to poor patronage, the two courses would be merged, with a total sanctioned strength of 36. Electives, including big data analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning, cyber security, data science, and augmented reality/virtual reality, will offer students the flexibility to choose papers from any or each of these programmes, the official said. Similarly, in the master's programme in Leather Technology, offered by the Central Leather Research Institute, which has a sanctioned strength of 24 students, only two students enrolled last year and three students the previous one. Sources said this could be because of the abundant placement opportunities available for undergraduates. A new proposal seeks to sanction six seats for the PG course while increasing the intake at the undergraduate level by about 15%. Also, in ocean technology, offered by the Civil Engineering Department, may be suspended, with plans to start a new course on climate change and disaster management. A similar proposal is being considered to merge the ME programme in solar energy with the ME energy engineering programme offered by the Mechanical Department of the College of Engineering, Guindy. The newly introduced multimedia (specialisation in visual communication) course offered by the Media Sciences Department has also come under the scanner due to poor patronage, but a faculty member has opposed any move to suspend the programme. 'The restructuring exercise is aimed at enhancing the academic research and innovation ecosystem offered by different institutions at Anna University and improving its global ratings,' J. Prakash, Registrar of the university, told The Hindu. 'We have taken several steps to improve our QS World University Ranking from 383 this year to place within 150 next year, as mandated by the government. The restructuring of courses is one of the steps,' he added.
Al Bawaba
26-02-2025
- General
- Al Bawaba
Abu Dhabi University Kicks-off the First International Sustainability Leaders Meeting
With the participation of over 250 attendees from across 40 countries, Abu Dhabi University (ADU) kicked off the First International Sustainability Leaders Meeting (ISLM), in collaboration with UI GreenMetric, World University Ranking at ADU's main campus. The event is in line with the UAE's Green Agenda 2030, which aims to contribute to the UAE's GDP by four to five percent through optimizing sustainability initiatives in the academic sector. The ISLM brought together national and global sustainability leaders, experts, and higher education institutions, as well as representatives from the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), over ten international universities, industries, and global ranking organizations. During the inaugural ISLM, under the theme 'Doing Sustainable Development Goals in Higher Education: The Story of Our Institution and Society,' Professor Ghassan Aouad, Chancellor of ADU, alongside H.E. Husin Bagis, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the UAE and Prof. Riri Fitri Sari, Chairperson, UI GreenMetric World University Rankings, welcomed all attendees consisting of prominent global sustainability leaders, experts and higher education institutions. Participants engaged in in-depth strategic discussions on integrating the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the academic institutions to drive global sustainability efforts. Professor Ghassan Aouad, Chancellor of Abu Dhabi University (ADU), said: 'Abu Dhabi University is proud to have hosted the First International Sustainability Leaders Meeting (ISLM) alongside our esteemed partner UI GreenMetric. As the global conversation on sustainability continues to grow, this gathering facilitates meaningful collaborations that empower and equip universities with the necessary tools and strategies to drive real change across the globe. Through fostering innovation and transformative action, we are addressing today's critical environmental challenges and shaping a more sustainable future for generations to come.' Professor Riri Fitri Sari, Chairperson, UI GreenMetric World University Rankings, emphasized the significance of this meeting by stating: 'This collaboration is crucial in bringing together university leaders to share their sustainability efforts and discuss how we can advance sustainable practices not only in higher education but across communities worldwide. The UAE, and Abu Dhabi in particular, have set a remarkable example for other nations with their strong commitment to sustainability, showcasing the power of innovation and leadership in creating a greener future.' Professor Sherine Farouk, Associate Provost for Academic Projects and Internationalization, Member of the Sustainability Strategic Committee at ADU, and Lead of the Communal Activation Pillar in the UAE Universities Climate Network (UCN), said: 'At ADU, we remain committed to equipping our students and community with the knowledge and platforms such as the inaugural International Sustainability Leaders Meeting to engage in critical conversations on sustainability. By raising awareness and providing opportunities for practical application of sustainable practices, we aim to enable our students to drive meaningful change towards a more sustainable future.' Furthermore, the meeting featured key speakers such as H.E. Ahmed Baharoon, Executive Director of Environmental Information Science and Outreach Management (EISOM) at the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), Dr. Ashwin Fernandes, Executive Director (AMESA) at QS and Professor Sherine Farouk, Associate Provost, Member of the Sustainability Strategic Committee at ADU and Lead of Communal Activation Pillar in the UAE Universities Climate Network (UCN). ISLM hosted a series of high-impact keynote sessions, interactive forums and expert panel discussions addressing key sustainability topics. These sessions explored Abu Dhabi's journey as a global leader in sustainable urban development, the evolving role of universities in achieving carbon neutrality and fostering green economies and strategies for implementing the vision of the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings Network (UIGWURN). In addition to the critical need to establishing sustainability offices in universities in integrating sustainable practices to equipping students and faculty with the knowledge and tools to actively contribute to a greener more sustainability future. The event is a testament to ADU's strong performance in the 2024 UI GreenMetric World University Rankings, where it ranked 344th out of 1,477 institutions worldwide and 2nd in the UAE – a 15-place improvement from the previous year. Organized by ADU, the event was launched in cooperation with the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), the National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST), University of Szeged, Universitas Diponegoro – The Excellence Research University (UNDIP), Università degli Studi dell'Aquila (UNIVAQ), Times Higher Education World University Rankings and Universidade de Sao Paulo, as well as the Association of Arab Universities, Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings, Tzu Chi University and the American University of Cairo (AUC).
