Mangalore: NIRF 2020 rankings were released on 11th June by HRD Minister, Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank'. These rankings are a metric of the relative accomplishments of the Indian academic institutes on different key parameters that capture the efficacy of various activities that an institute of higher learning is expected to carry out in the modern era. The ranking of an institution is determined based on five key parameters, namely, Teaching, Learning & Resources, Research & Professional Practice, Graduation Outcomes, Outreach & Inclusivity and Perception. Data pertaining to these parameters across three consecutive previous years is examined. The ranking framework seek to examine the commitment of the institutions towards improving the teaching learning environment, graduation outcomes, strengthening Research activities, the connect with society and institutional perception across India and the world. Thus the rank acquired by an institution is a cumulative reflection of its performance during the previous three academic years.
The ranking framework parameters are designed to capture many facets of an institution of higher learning such as the faculty – student ratio, quality of teaching, research and publications, percentage of students placed in industries, their salary, percentage of students going for higher studies, percentage of international students etc. It also takes into account the financial resources available to the institute, including funds received from research and consultancy projects. In the last one year, NITK has performed very well on all of these parameters and has achieved a significant improvement in overall performance with a jump of 6.05 points compared to last year.
The National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal is placed 13th in the Engineering school rankings and 33rd in the overall rankings this year. It has improved its position by eight places in the Engineering rankings (from 21st in 2019 to 13th in 2020) and by twenty places in the overall rankings (from 53rd to 33rd). This is indeed a very momentous and joyous occasion for the faculty, staff students and the alumni of the institute and particularly so when it is celebrating its Diamond Jubilee year. NITK, Surathkal is now placed second among the NITs.
MHRD has been constantly striving to improve the process of assessing institutions. Every year, a few new parameters are added. These serve to capture the excellence achieved by the institutions in a more comprehensive manner. For the current assessment, MHRD added an additional parameter pertaining to the number of accredited UG/ PG courses offered by the institute. Among the 31 NITs spread across the country, NITK is the only institution to have to possess the distinction of having all of its engineering disciplines (UG programs) accredited for the maximum period of six years. Over the last couple of years, the institute faculty have been successful in acquiring several prestigious and high valued research grants from both national and international funding agencies. There is healthy competition among the faculty members as far as improving their credentials is concerned. This has a positive impact on the quality of research and in turn on the number of research papers published, patents filed, published and granted. Serious efforts are being put in at all levels to improve the visibility, quality and impact of research publications in peer reviewed international journals. To augment the quality research institute has initiated NITK-Central Research Facility (CRF) with HEFA funding, and it was inaugurated by Hon’ble HRM Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank on Feb 25 2020.
Our vibrant student community drawn from all parts of the country has competed successfully with bright students from all over the country and the world for placements and internships. This sterling achievement of our students in obtaining high value placements and internships in top ranking industries and foreign universities in the face of intense national/ international competition has given a boost to our placement in the ranks of the best institutions in India. The institute has also gained significantly in terms of perception because of its strong collaboration with various national and international agencies and institutions. Outreach activities of the institute, awards won by the students and faculty at national and international events, exemplary work being done by our alumni in various fields of human activity has also helped to improve the perception of the institute across India and the world.
With all these positive developments and the enormous dedication, resolve and commitment of the faculty, staff and students, the institute has rightly found its appropriate place in the ranks of the top rated institutes and universities in India. We are very happy at this development and are constantly striving to improve our standing in the comity of institutions of higher learning in India and the world.
