IISc slides in THE World University Rankings 2018

The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, has climbed down from its previous position in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2018.

Though IISc remained the best higher educational institution in India according to the ranking list released by the international rating agency on Tuesday, the Times Higher Education placed it in the 251-300 groupings of the best universities.

The IISc was placed in the 201-250 groupings of the best higher educational institutions last year. It witnessed a climb down from its previous position “largely” due to drops in its research influence score and research income, the THE said.

“It is disappointing that India has declined in the THE World University Rankings amid increasing global competition,” THE editorial director of global rankings Phil Baty said.

The IISc has moved further away from the list of elite top 200 universities at a time when leading universities in other Asian countries including China, Hong Kong and Singapore are “consistently” rising up on the rankings.

“Thanks to high and sustained levels of funding,” Baty added.

The Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT) and IIT-Kharagpur have retained their position by remaining in the 351-400 band and 501-600 band of best universities, the IIT-Delhi and IIT-Kanpur have come down to 501-600 band from last year’s 401-500.

The IIT-Madras, which was placed at 401-500 band of best universities, has climbed down to joint the universities placed in the band of 601-800 in the global ranking list.

For the first time, two UK universities have taken the top spots. While the University of Oxford takes the first place position in the global ranking, the University of Cambridge climbs two places up to grab the second position.

DH News Service