A recent report by the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR) on May 13 highlighted a concerning trend of Indian universities facing challenges amidst intensified global competition from well-funded institutions. While Indian universities have shown an increase in research output, this hasn’t translated into comparable success in higher education. The report noted that out of the 64 Indian universities and institutes that made it to the 2024 edition of the Global 2000 list, many experienced mixed results, with 33 institutions falling down in rankings while 32 moved up.
Leading the pack among Indian institutions, the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad secured the top rank, climbing 9 spots to secure the 410th position. However, the Indian Institute of Science dropped 7 places to sit at 501st position. Similarly, prominent Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) also experienced fluctuations in their rankings, with some climbing while others descended. For instance, IIT Bombay plunged 14 spots to rank 568th, while IIT Delhi and IIT Kharagpur were among the top ten best performers.
Dr. Nadim Mahassen, President of the Center for World University Rankings, emphasized the growing pressure on India’s standing in education and highlighted the need for additional government investment in education and research. Despite India’s increase in research output, there is a clear gap in translating this success into higher education achievements.
On a global scale, Harvard University secured the top spot for the thirteenth consecutive year, followed by other prestigious institutions like MIT, Stanford, Cambridge, and Oxford. Chinese educational institutions notably outperformed, with 95% of them moving up the ladder, supported by significant investment in research and development.
The report analyzed 62 million outcome-based data points to rank universities worldwide based on parameters such as the quality of education, employability, quality of faculty, and research. Out of 20,966 ranked universities, those making it to the top Global 2000 list represented higher education institutions from 94 countries.
