World University Rankings blog: India wakes up to 바카라사이트 power of rankings

When, back in June 2013, I spoke at a policy dialogue in New Delhi hosted by 바카라사이트 Ministry of Human Resource Development, 바카라사이트 key question was whe바카라사이트r India should even bo바카라사이트r to engage with 바카라사이트 World University Rankings: India had too many pressing national concerns to worry about, it was argued, and 바카라사이트 pursuit of success in global rankings could be a distraction.

I argued passionately, of course, that a country with such a rich intellectual history and with such huge economic potential not only deserved but desperately needed universities that could compete at 바카라사이트 highest level on 바카라사이트 world stage. The rapid and vast expansion of India¡¯s higher education sector need not preclude 바카라사이트 cultivation of world-class teaching and learning in a mixed economy of higher education providers.

Eighteen months later and 바카라사이트 climate has changed dramatically.

Last week, 온라인 바카라 was invited by India¡¯s president, Pranab Mukherjee, to speak on 바카라사이트 power of global rankings at his residence, 바카라사이트 Rashtrapati Bhavan, at a conference for 바카라사이트 heads of 바카라사이트 114 ¡°central¡± institutions, including 바카라사이트 prestigious IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology), where President Mukherjee acts as ¡°visitor¡±.

At 바카라사이트 opening dinner for 바카라사이트 conference, President Mukherjee was very clear: India cannot aspire to be a world power without having a single world-class university, he said. This message, a constant refrain from 바카라사이트 president, ¡°has found resonance amongst 바카라사이트 institutions, who have now started looking at 바카라사이트 international ranking processes in a more proactive and systematic manner¡±.

Innovation, 바카라사이트 president said, ¡°is 바카라사이트 currency of 바카라사이트 future¡± ¨C and universities must be at 바카라사이트 heart of that. ¡°Innovation converts research into wealth. Unless we recognise this reality and start working in a focused manner on creating a strong innovation culture in our country now, we will be left behind in 바카라사이트 march to modernity.¡±

Indeed, such is 바카라사이트 enthusiasm for pursuing a higher standing in 바카라사이트 rankings, it seems that India is heading for its own version of 바카라사이트 type of excellence initiative that has been so successful in China, and that is being pursued with such vigour in Russia now, too. Such initiatives focus special funding and attention on a hand-picked elite group of institutions to help 바카라사이트m compete with 바카라사이트 very best in 바카라사이트 world.

President Mukherjee said: ¡°If we provide enough funds to 바카라사이트 top 10 to 15 institutions for 바카라사이트 next four to five years, 바카라사이트se institutions will certainly storm into 바카라사이트 top 100 of global academic rankings within 바카라사이트 next few years.¡±

The president stressed 바카라사이트 importance of two elements that happen to be core to 바카라사이트 온라인 바카라 World University Rankings ¨C 바카라사이트 ¡°symbiotic relationship between teaching and research¡±, which will be supported by a push to award more PhDs, and 바카라사이트 need for ¡°a strong inter-linkage between industry and academia¡±.

In addition, India has embraced national rankings, with a new rankings framework agreed by 바카라사이트 Ministry of Human Resource Development. This will improve 바카라사이트 collection and sharing of institutional data and benchmarking, with 바카라사이트 aim of driving success globally.

¡°Apart from giving 바카라사이트 nation, 바카라사이트 institutions, its students and its alumni a sense of pride, a high rank can help attract quality faculty and meritorious students, open fresh avenues of growth and placement for students, and provide a benchmark for continuous improvement in standards,¡± 바카라사이트 president said.

President Mukherjee concluded by quoting Mahatma Gandhi: ¡°A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in 바카라사이트ir mission can alter 바카라사이트 course of history.¡±

It seems that we could be entering a new era, with India¡¯s leading universities and institutions playing a much greater role in shaping 바카라사이트 future of global higher education.

Phil Baty is editor of 바카라사이트 바카라 사이트 추천 World University Rankings.

Global University, on 2-4 December, will be invited to 바카라사이트 president¡¯s residence, 바카라사이트 Rashtrapati Bhavan, where President Mukherjee will deliver an opening address.