NIRF Ranking a reliable system to set new benchmark against our own performance every year: NIT Andhra Pradesh Director Prof. CSP Rao
TADEPALLIGUDEM : National Institute of Technology Andhra Pradesh conducted a seminar on National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) on 22nd October 2021 to bring awareness among the stakeholders in educational institutions.
The focus was on administrative staff, students, researchers and faculty members and to provide a pathway to NIT Andhra Pradesh for a focused performance in all aspects of NIRF Ranking in the coming years.
The NIRF framework outlines a methodology to rank institutions across the country. The methodology draws from the overall recommendations broad understanding arrived at by a Core Committee set up by Ministry of Education, Government of India, to identify the broad parameters for ranking various universities and institutions.
Addressing the NIRF Workshop, Prof. C.S.P. Rao, Director, NIT Andhra Pradesh, said, “Rankings at National and International level of educational institutions have a lot of importance in recent times as it became a deciding factor to know the quality of the higher education as well as reputation of the institutions. NIRF Ranking will be treated as reliable and a required feedback system to set new benchmark against our own performance every year. NIT Andhra Pradesh strives to achieve good ranking with all support of stakeholders in near future”
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Guest Prof. N.V. Ramana Rao, Director, NIT Warangal, said, “Ranking is one of the important tools for assessing the performance of the institutions of Higher Education. No Higher Education can sustain for long without good rankings. Institute rankings can influence national and international partnerships and collaborations.”
Further, Prof. N.V. Ramana Rao said, “This ties in with the positive branding that manifests from rankings, but for institutions with an advantageous rank, it will improve willingness of others to partner with them or support their membership of academic or professional associations. NIRF aims to identify and recognize top performing institutions, promote competitiveness among institutions and assist prospective students in their decision-making process when selecting institutions.”
Further, Prof. Ramana Rao provided following suggestions to improve the performance of an educational institute aspiring for NIRF Rankings”
Ø Promote qualitative research in the institute on a large scale.
Ø Increase the ratio of international students in the Institute.
Ø Grant full autonomy to the institute.
Ø Strengthen the present NIRF data filling process by promoting the availability of the data of the institute at every level.
Ø Bring high quality journals in every field of study.
Ø Promote quality teaching by integrating educational technology.
Ø Put in place processes to facilitate granting the patent of the invention.
Ø Improve the reputation of the institutions of higher education by massive advertisement and Networking.
Ø Placement and the higher education listing of alumni should be given due priority by the institute in the form of ‘Alumni Tracing’
Ø The quality of publication having greater impact factor / citation should be increased and attempts should be made to publish papers in the top 25% percentile.
Ø Institute should reach out through appropriate means so that the visibility of the institute increases nationally particularly to employers and peers.
Ø The category RP has major weightage in the NIRF scores which decide the final ranking in NIRF.
The key topics covered in detail by Prof. N.V. Ramana Rao during this seminar include:
Ø Teaching, Learning & Resources (TLR)
Ø Research and Professional Practice (RP)
Ø Graduation Outcomes (GO)
Ø Outreach and Inclusivity (OI)
Ø Peer Perception (PP)
Dr. P. Dinesh Sankar Reddy, Registrar-in-charge, NIT Andra Pradesh, welcomed the gathering and presented the overview of the campus development during program. Dr. R. Arun Kumar, Associate Dean (Faculty Welfare), NIT Andhra Pradesh, introduced the Chief Guest.
Delivering the vote of thanks, Dr. G.B. Veeresh Kumar, Dean (Student Welfare), NIT Andhra Pradesh, expressed his gratitude to all the participants from various departments and sections for making the seminar a grand success. The seminar was attended by faculty members from other institutions in the District.