DBRAU Review and Verdict by CollegeDekho

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Dr BR Ambedkar University (DBRAU), Agra, is one of the reputed institutes located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. Accredited by the NAAC as a 'B++' Grade University, DBRAU presently serves the educational needs of the Agra Division's seven districts - Agra, Aligarh, Mainpuri, Hathras, Firozabad, Etah, and Mathura.  The university has four residential campuses namely, Paliwal Park, Khandari Campus, Civil Lines Campus, and Chhaleshar Campus. DBRAU courses include undergraduate programmes, like BTech, BSc, BBA, BCom, BFA and B.Voc., as well as postgraduate courses like MSc, MCom, MTech, etc. If you are confused about whether to be admitted to DBRAU or not, we have got you covered. This comprehensive unbiased review of DBRAU with all the pros and cons listed will help you with your decision. 

Dr BR Ambedkar University offers academic brilliance with its syllabus being updated yearly. Dedicated and highly educated teachers play a pivotal role in guiding students in their academic pursuits with their expertise and mentorship. DBRAU admissions are done through the entrance exam and on a merit basis. Students with average scores can easily get a seat in this college. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Agra University has a contemporary campus that offers amenities including clean dorms, properly maintained colleges, a large campus, a canteen, and an extensive library etc. 

Although DBRAU is located on the outskirts of Agra City, which requires proper commute facilities like buses and vans, the institute doesn't offer these options to students. This is a major inconvenience that students taking admission here are likely to face. The university's male-to-female ratio is 63:37, which implies that more male students are enrolled. One significant reason for fewer female students taking admission can be due to the fear of safety as it is located in a rural area of Uttar Pradesh. Also, the teacher-to-student ratio is 1:51, which is too low and implies that the university needs to hire more faculty to ensure that all students get equal attention and assistance. Another drawback that needs to be highlighted is that DBRAU offers 50% placements only. This signifies that only half of the batch gets placed through campus placements and the rest of the students have to find jobs on their own. In order to build a name outside of the state and make it to the NIRF rankings, DBRAU needs to expand its placement opportunities by engaging with the top recruiters. The university hosts seminars, workshops, and guest lectures which are crucial to enhancing the students' learning experiences by introducing them to real-world scenarios and industry insights, preparing them for future challenges and job preparedness. 

DBRAU NIRF Ranking

DBRAU doesn't have any NIRF ranking. However, the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) has granted Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar University in Agra its 'B++' Grade of accreditation. However, according to the July 2023 reports shared by EduRank, the university has secured the following positions under the 'Best Universities EduRank 2023' category -

• Ranked 15 out of 79 in Uttar Pradesh

• Ranked 129 of 876 in India

• Ranked 1192 of 5830 in Asia

• Ranked 3575 of 14,131 in the world

Our Take

Since the DBRAU has not submitted its name for the NIRF rankings, we can say that the reason behind that could be fear of securing poor rankings in NIRF due to issues of gender disparity, poor faculty-to-student ratio, mediocre placement records, lack of proper commute services etc. The university needs to address these issues to improve its stature and secure a position in the NIRF rankings. 

Dr BR Ambedkar University Agra Academia & Batch Size

DBRAU follows the semester-wise academic system and has an updated and well-designed course structure. No mid-semester surprise exams, projects, or assignments are conducted. In addition, the faculty and course-wise department of the college also pay less heed to extra workshops, projects, and seminars essential for the overall personality development of students as they provide great chances for hands-on learning, skill-building, and networking. 

Talking about securing DBRAU admission, there is no cutthroat competition for the seats available in college be it with the flagship BTech degree or BSc/ BCom/ MSc degree as per the various claims made by students on Quora. Passing the DBRAU exams is also a cakewalk if you are smart enough to study properly. The exam paper set by the faculty is easy to attempt. 

However, as per the students' reviews on Quora, the DBRAU paper scrutiny system is old-fashioned and evaluates the candidates’ performance from the number of pages they filled in the answer sheet. Teachers grant marks depending on the length of the answer rather than the quality. 

DBRAU Courses Seat Intake

DBRUA college seat intake varies as per the courses. For courses like B.Com, B.Sc, BE./BTech the college offers more seats as the university releases more applications for these Bachelor’s courses. For courses like BCA, BBA, and BA there are adequate seats available.

Our Take

• DBRAU seat distribution is decent. The classes are neither overcrowded nor empty. 

• For better or for worse there is no rule of 75% attendance. However, to ensure that students do not miss out on lectures and regular classes, we encourage them to maintain attendance. Also, keeping low attendance may lead to students being charged additional fees, which will be inconvenient at the time of examination. 

• Students have reviewed on Quora that the college’s faculty and teachers are the backbones as they are at the forefront of guiding and helping students.

• The DBRAU course structure is suitable for students who wish to pursue other professional courses along with one course or for students who want an easy breezy degree without hustle and bustle because the difficulty level of the university’s semester exam is moderate and not very tough. Students can pass by dedicating a few hours to study thoroughly. 

• Students who want to push their boundaries and are eager to improve their skills by participating in core lectures, seminars, projects, and assignments must consider before taking admission at DBRAU.
  

DBRAU Infrastructure

Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University has a sprawling 14-acre campus. The campus is good and the whole institution is situated on the ground and first floors.

• Classroom: The DBRAU classes are spacious and have proper seating arrangements due to moderate seat intake

• Auditorium/ Seminar Halls/ Labs: The college has a single auditorium for all the events and a distinct laboratory for each department.

• Library: DBRAU campus has a central 4-storey library containing 1,67,800 volumes, 1,40,000 books, 14000 PhD dissertations, 12000 bound books, and several other Magazine issues and 4500 e-journals. 

• Internet:Wi-Fi facility is available on the DBRAU campus. Students have access to Wi-Fi across campus and in the dorms.

• Commute: DBRAU is located on the outskirts of Agra. Students can avail of local bus services to commute but the option is very limited.

• Hostel: Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar University offers hostel accommodation for both girls and boys. Cleanliness is maintained in all the rooms. However, students must note that the Girs' Hostel gate closes at 8 PM, after which entry is restricted.

• College Canteen:The college houses a well-maintained canteen that serves properly cooked, hygienic food.

• Activities: The university has only sports and fitness clubs. Reviews from students on Quora indicate that there aren't any student-run social groups at the university. 

Our take 

• Talking about the DBRAU infrastructure, it is adequate for a college located on the outskirts of Agra. It is neither too lavish nor lacks basic facilities like a library, hostel, labs, fitness club, etc. So students can enjoy the basic amenities within the premises without having to step out. The availability of an internet connection is a plus point considering the remote location. However, limited commute services pose a major problem as students are often unable to travel during emergencies from the campus. 

• The university has a convenience store from where students can buy supplies for their everyday requirements, including stationery. The shop also has a photocopying service and offers a postal service which is great for students living on the outskirts.

• The university has two distinct banks and a few operational ATM machines located within the campus. This, again, is an added advantage since searching for a bank or ATM services nearby would be inconvenient. Students can withdraw cash and avail of monetary assistance as needed from within the campus. 

• There is a waiting area for guests and visiting family members. The university does a decent job when it comes to hospitality. Visitors//parents can comfortably wait around to meet students in this designated area. They can also make the most of the service provided by the university canteen while waiting. 

DBRAU Internships and Placements

Talking about the DBRAU placements, it is unsatisfactory and the data revealed on various platforms as well as considering student’s reactions also states the same. 

DBRAU Internship

DBRAU Placements

For undergraduate courses, placements are relatively few or nonexistent. Companies typically visit the campus to recruit students taking management degrees like BBA and MBA. As per the DBRAU placement report for the year 2021, only 14 companies visited the campus and 61 students were offered jobs. The overall placement rate is only 50%, as per sources. The highest package offered was INR 7 LPA. 

Our Take

• The current DBRAU placements are poor considering the placements report and reviews given by students on Quora. The main reasons for companies not visiting the campus or offering low packages could be the unsatisfactory quality of education and the overall reputation of the university. 

• If we consider the limited number of seat intake, nearly 80-90% of students should have been placed. However, out of hundreds, only 61 students getting job offers implies a higher disparity in admissions and placements. The university needs to upgrade its overall ranking and focus on bringing in more recruiters to ensure 100% placements. 

• A limited number of recruiters visited Dr  Bhim Rao Ambedkar for the DBRAU placement drive. This could be due to the location, size and reputation of the university, the number and quality of students in the relevant fields of study. Recruiters may also consider the results of previous recruitment efforts at the university. 

• At 7 lakhs per annum, the salary package offered to students is unjustifiable. With a proper full-time degree, students should have bagged a better package. However, this suggests that the college you attend has a lifelong impact on your earnings. Graduating from other top-ranked universities leads to better job offers and salary packages. Therefore, if you are aiming for lucrative remuneration, we suggest you consider other universities. 

Brighter Aspect to Look at For Students Planning to Take Admission

Media sources state that DBRAU Agra has chosen to integrate internships, fieldwork, and project work into its degree curriculum. As per the report released by Shiksha, in May 2022, a meeting was conducted under the direction of the university vice-chancellor. Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University in Agra will now pay a high priority to activities linked to DBRAU placement and make sure that all qualified students are placed after successfully completing their degree programs.

DBRAU Diversity & Representation

As per reports released on various platforms, the male-to-female ratio at Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University Agra was 63:37, which is not adequate. One of the major barriers to this gender disparity in higher education could be the low participation of women in technical programs and inadequate academic preparation. The other reasons identified may be self-perception of ability, where women with the same acumen as men underestimate their potential.

Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Agra Cultural Diversity 

Campus life at Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar University is vibrant and diverse. Students from various cultural backgrounds can apply for admission to this university. The data below demonstrates the student diversity at Dr. Ambedkar University Agra in terms of students from various origins and cultures. 

Note: The data used for the analysis above came from Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University Agra students and alumni who had registered on Youth4work.

Our Take

• The male-to-female ratio of 63: 37 clearly indicates the disparity between male and female students taking admission. One reason for this gender disparity could be the college being located on the outskirts and lacking adequate commute facilities. In addition, the other reason could be few female students opt for higher education in Uttar Pradesh unlike other states, such as Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, where the scope for higher studies for women is way better. 

DBRAU Faculty/ College Administration & Management

DBRAU has a regular faculty of highly qualified professors overseeing its 17 departments. These teachers are education professionals in their specialization. The current faculty-to-student ratio is 1:51, which is low and the university must hire more teachers to make sure that students are getting sufficient academic attention and guidance. 

Our Take

DBRAU faculty is admired by its students and alumni for being excellent in teaching, guiding, and helping students. The other side of the coin is that there has been a slight shortage of teachers keeping the number of students in college in mind. The university must address this issue and appoint more faculty members. We suggest DBRAU should also focus more on modern teaching methods to clear doubts and make the learning process seamless and more enjoyable to students. 

DBRAU Location

DBRAU Agra is located a good distance away from the main city at Paliwal Park, on Park Road in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. The airport, bus station, and railway station are located at quite some distance. Without proper transport facilities, this turns out to be a major setback. 

Commute Details

Our Take

Due to the DBRAU college location being near the Yamuna River, most of the student population is restricted to that region. Students from outside of Delhi select DBRAU as a last-resort of study option due to the limited number of colleges located in the district.

Expectation vs Reality CollegeDekho Verdict

Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar University located in Agra has great infrastructure with all the checkpoints that a good college should have such as proper hostels, well-trained and educated staff, a library, an updated curriculum, etc. If we believe that the latest meeting held in May 2022, the DBRAU placements are expected to improve which is one of their lacking point. It is a suitable college option for students who plan to study add on a course or want to do a part-time job along with securing a degree as there is no need for 75% attendance and its course curriculum can be easily versed if you are fluent in studies. Considering the student's review, the DBRAU admission process is easy, so students who are unable to score top AIR rank in the entrance exam can take admission here and not drop their year.

Also, if you are a resident of Uttar Pradesh and you don’t wish to relocate to other states of India for higher studies you can consider Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Agra as a suitable study option.

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