Shivamogga: Union Human Resource Development Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in New Delhi released the prestigious National Educational Institutions Rankings (NIRF) 2022 on the internet on Friday July 15. Kuvempu University has secured 86th rank making it to the top 100 in the country for the fifth year in a row. It continues to be in the third position among the traditional Universities of the State, just like last time. Among 4,100 educational institutions in the country, Kuvempu University by scoring 42.44 marks has secured 86th rank in the entire country. The university, which was ranked in the 150th to 200th category in 2017, jumped sharply to 78th position in 2018. This year it has secured 86th rank, and thus has made it to the top 100, despite a setback to higher education activities due to COVID – 19 and the retirement of around 10 professors of the university.
Educational institutions across the country (4,100) including central universities, central government higher educational institutions, and private universities that run professional courses such as engineering, deemed universities are subject to grading. Among the universities in Karnataka, The University of Mysore and Bangalore University have been ranked 33rd and 64th, respectively. In order to improve the quality of educational institutions in the country and to give a boost to overall higher education, the HRD Ministry had launched the NIRF ranking in 2015 and has now released the seventh edition.
Grading of universities along with educational institutions of engineering, management, medical, architecture, law subjects under NIRF human resources department is undertaken every year.
Vice Chancellor Prof. B. P. Veerabhadrappa said a pandemic like Covid – 19 had crippled educational institutions during the NIRF assessment period. In addition, about 10 senior professors from the arts and science departments of the university have retired from service. I am happy that the university has made it to the list of top 100 institutions.”
Registrar G. Anuradha responded, that it is heartening to note that a government-affiliated university in rural areas is competing with reputed educational institutions and also that an institution with a background of just three decades has been within the 100 list for four years in a row is a matter of pride.
NIRF Ranking Standards
The Ranking Framework of National Educational Institutions provides a ranking based on five key criteria. This includes existing resources for teaching, and learning in educational institutions that are subject to ranking facility, ongoing research and professional activities in institutions, through courses the outcome of higher education, including the employment opportunities created by the institute and the pass percentage of the examination, the ongoing expansion and social inclusion activities through the educational institution and the perception and opinion of the staff, researchers, the public about the institution. Assessment and grading is done through these five criteria. Kuvempu University has been ranked 10th among the higher educational institutions in the state among others.
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (2), Manipal Academy of Higher Education (17), National Institute of Technology – Karnataka (27), University of Mysore (54), JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Mysuru (60), Bangalore University (98), and Visvesvaraya Technological University (100) are the other educational institutions in Karnataka which are in the top 100 rankings.
