IISc-Bengaluru India's only institution among top-100 in THE Reputation Rankings
Regaining its lost position after a lull of seven years, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, has made it to the top-100 in the Times Higher Education (THE) World Reputation Rankings 2018. The research institute has featured in the 91-100 band of the comprehensive ranking system. Notably, IISc is the only Indian institution that has made it to the list this year.
London-based weekly magazine, THE, compiled the exhaustive list by surveying more than 10,000 senior academics. Phil Baty, editorial director of Global Rankings for THE, appreciated the "Indian presence", adding that it's a "highly significant achievement to be included" since it's a ranking among "the most powerful university brands." This prestige will help IISc in "attracting necessary talents to allow it to compete," he hoped.
Twenty-three other institutions from the Asia Pacific region grabbed top spots in the list. Among those, eight belonged to China while seven are in Japan. However, US continued to dominate, with Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Stanford University taking the first three places in the list. Interestingly, this is the eighth year for Harvard at the numero uno position.
The US presence doesn't stop there: there are 41 other institutions that sit quite comfortably in the top-100. This considerable strength shown by US is despite "it suffering a 'Trump slump' in terms of its global reputation," said Baty. What's disappointing is the fall of the UK varsities, with only nine making it to the list. The maximum damage was felt by London-based institutions.
"London is one of the world's most dynamic capital cities, and has traditionally been the leading city for outstanding higher education and research. If this data turns out to be the beginning of a trend of decline, the damage could be significant," maintained Baty.
IISc emerged as the best university in a government ranking released last month as well, with Miranda House of Delhi University adjudged the best college. The other winners in their respective categories under the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings were IIT-Madras (engineering), AIIMS Delhi (medical) and IIM-Ahmedabad (management). The total of nine categories included law, architecture and pharmacy too.
