Out of the total 23 Indian Institute of Technologies (IITs) in India, as many as 16 IITs have not been able to come up with a decision regarding whether or not participate in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings for the year 2021 as of yet. While 07 IITs, which falls under the bracket of first generation IITs, have already decided to not participate in THE rankings citing lack of transparency and data discrepancy, no official statement regarding the same has been released by the remaining 16 second and third generation IITs. Time Higher Education (THE) will release the World University Rankings for 2021 in the month of September 2020.
According to the Director of one of the first generation IITs, the methodology adopted by THE to rank the Universities and Institutes are inconsistent and beyond their understanding. Whereas an Indian Institution is placed under the top 200 bracket by QS Rankings, the same institution does not find a place even in the top 300 bracket of THE World University Rankings. The IIT Director added that such discrepancies have been misleading the aspiring students and the general public.
He also said that if provided with satisfactory details on THE methodology which is followed to rank the Universities, the IITs which have pulled of THE rankings might rethink their decision.
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It is suspected that the act of pulling out from THE World University Rankings by these IITs might jeopardise the international outlook of the country as up till now, the IITs have consistently represented India globally due to the “World Class University” tags they carry. According to an official statement from THE, the decision of the IITs pulling out of THE World University Rankings might not only have some detrimental effects on the Institutions but the nation as a whole.
The Chief Knowledge Officer of THE Phil Baty, while not adding up anything on the official statement, said that they believe that the measures and methodologies of THE are comprehensive. He also said that there hasn’t been an opportunity for THE to discuss this issue with the IITs directly while concluding.
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THE has already received the data from 46 Indian Institutions for the 2021 World University Rankings.