Indian universities are done being backbenchers in the global rankings race
Jan 6, 2025
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Indian universities are caught in a frenzy to climb global rankings like QS, leading them to adopt questionable strategies. They’re admitting more foreign students and hiring expensive consultants, often sidelining academics. The obsession poses real concerns about transparency and neglecting essential education values. Furthermore, the influence of ranking agencies prompts institutions to prioritize metrics over sustainability and environmental considerations, ultimately affecting the academic experience for both faculty and students.
The rising obsession with global university rankings in India has led institutions to prioritize reputation and partnerships over genuine academic excellence.
Concerns about the integrity of ranking systems highlight practices where universities may compromise educational values to achieve better standings.
Deep dives
The Rising Importance of University Rankings
The increasing obsession with university rankings has transformed the landscape of higher education in India, with many institutions now vying for prestigious positions on lists like the QS rankings. From a mere eleven universities in the rankings a decade ago, the number has surged to 46, highlighting a wider involvement beyond just elite institutions. This shift has significant implications, as universities increasingly leverage their rankings to enhance reputation, attract funding, and secure partnerships with global counterparts. The dynamics are reminiscent of China's earlier journey, where government initiatives linked scholarships to university standings, fueling a competitive drive for improvement.
The Impact of Rankings on Educational Institutions
The ascent of Shulini University in the QS rankings exemplifies how critical such standings can be, with the administration claiming that their improved status has opened doors to new opportunities and collaborations previously unavailable. The founder emphasized that recognition through rankings dramatically shifted perceptions, enabling the university to engage more seriously with reputable institutions abroad. However, not all experts support the ranking frenzy, warning that it could overshadow critical educational values and lead to detrimental practices, such as gaming metrics or compromising academic integrity. This concern echoes a broader sentiment among academicians who fear the rankings may impose undue pressures on universities, faculty, and students alike.
Manipulation and Transparency Issues in Rankings
The methods used by some universities to enhance their rankings raise serious questions about transparency and fairness. Reliance on surveys and public perception management often skews the integrity of rankings, with some institutions employing external consultants to manipulate outcomes. The role of consulting firms has expanded, with many educational institutions now investing in strategies specifically designed to improve their rank, sometimes at the cost of their core educational missions. As institutions navigate this increasingly competitive environment, gaps in equity arise, particularly disadvantaging state-funded universities that cannot afford extensive marketing and consulting services.
For an Indian university, a spot on the QS Rankings list could change everything. It would mean they belonged to the same elite club as the Cambridges and Oxfords of the world.
But to nab that spot, universities are stopping at nothing — from admitting more foreign students, to paying top dollar to hire consultants and purchasing seats at conferences. But in the process some fear these universities are neglecting their bread and butter — academics.
How did we get here? What's behind this growing obsession with climbing up the global ranking ladder?
Tune in.
Daybreak is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India’s first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive, deeply-reported, and analytical business stories.
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