Indian universities soar in Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings 2024; 91 institutions represented

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Indian universities have made strides in the Times Higher Education’s (THE) World University Rankings 2024, with five of the nation’s leading institutions showcasing remarkable improvements. The Indian Institute of Science catapulted from its previous ranking in the 251-300 band to an elevated position in the 201-250 range. Similarly, Anna University surged from the 801-1000 category to a more prominent 501-600 ranking, while Aligarh Muslim University made noteworthy progress, advancing from the 801-1000 band to the 601-800 tier, according to an official release.

Bharathiar University also saw a commendable ascent, climbing from the 801-1000 band to the 601-800 category. Furthermore, the Malaviya National Institute of Technology secured a remarkable debut in the rankings, securing a spot in the 601-800 range for the first time, underscoring the continuous growth and development of Indian higher education institutions, the release mentioned.

In 2024, India has made a substantial leap in global university rankings, with a notable increase in the number of its universities included – a remarkable rise from 75 last year and 56 in 2020 to a current count of 91. This surge in participation is unrivalled by any other nation. A standout among the newcomers is the Malaviya National Institute of Technology, securing a commendable position in the 601-800 bracket, as per the release.

The World University Rankings for 2024 claims to have undergone significant enhancements in methodology, boasting unprecedented levels of comprehensiveness, depth, detail and data assessment, solidifying its status as the most rigorous and robust ranking worldwide. This year, 18 calibrated performance indicators, up from 13 in the previous year, are categorised into five pillars: teaching, research quality, research environment, international outlook, and industry. Among the additions are four new metrics, three of which assess research quality, with the fourth focusing on patent activity in the industry pillar, it added.

“India has well and truly embraced the international agenda, and international competition, with an unprecedented 91 universities making it into the rigorous and demanding Times Higher Education World University Rankings this year – making India now the fourth best represented nation in the rankings. This is great news for India, as these institutions can deploy THE’s rich, international performance benchmarks to further improve and to put themselves rightfully on the world stage,” Phil Baty, THE’s chief global affairs officer, said.

Oxford University, United Kingdom (UK) tops global university rankings, followed by Stanford University in the United States (US) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in third place. Asia shines with 737 universities, showing significant improvements in teaching and research quality. 165 new universities join, with 89 from Asia, including one from mainland China. Mainland China excels with the highest-ranked Asian universities, with 33 now in the top 200, highlighting the region’s growing influence in global academia, the release further noted. (FE)