IIT Madras tops NIRF rankings again; Anna University, Coimbatore colleges shine in Tamil Nadu

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras, has retained its top rank in engineering category for the 10th year in a row while also bagging the overall top position in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) listings for the seventh consecutive year.

These apart, the Chennai-based institution also bagged top slot in the innovations category and the newly introduced Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) institutions category, besides retaining the number two slot in the research institutions category, which was topped by Indian Institute of Science.

Anna University occupied the second position in State public universities category, missing the top spot by a whisker to Jadavpur University.

Coimbatore had more reasons to celebrate as three of its institutions secured places in the top 10 rankings in different categories. Bharathiar University was ranked tenth among State public universities while PSGR Krishnammal College for Women and PSG College of Arts and Science secured ninth and 10th positions, respectively, in the colleges category.

IIT Madras Director V. Kamakoti attributed the ranking results to the “cohesive, consistent, focussed approach towards running the institution” and the formulation of a strategic plan involving faculty, staff, students, alumni, industry representatives, funding agencies and ministry officials, which is revised periodically. The institute, he said, began looking at SDGs three years ago through various initiatives to achieve net zero carbon footprint, including solar power installations, water recycling and various efforts through the School of Sustainability. “Our energy consortium has 70 faculty, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg. We still have a long way to go. My message to the faculty is that it is time to rejoice, not relax,” Dr. Kamakoti added.

J. Prakash, Registrar, Anna University, rued the fact that the institution missed the top spot in the State public universities category by 0.02 points. The Tamil Nadu government has accorded permission to fill up 288 vacant faculty positions, which would help improve scores in parameters like ‘Teaching, Learning, Resources’, ‘Research and Professional Practices’, and ‘Graduation Outcomes’, Dr. Prakash added.