The University Grants Commission (UGC) has said it will rank all institutions across the country. This has proved to be a controversial move. Private colleges and universities will fall under its rating ambit.
UGC ranking out educational institutions is for the first time. So, this decision has definitely annoyed other regulatory bodies such as AICTE (for engineering), MCI (medical), NATA (architecture) and the UGC's own statutory authority (attracting more attention).
The rankings will be announced in April 2016, however for this purpose, it has set up a National Institution Ranking Framework (NIRF) for universities and colleges. In order to participate in the ranking exercise, all institutions need to pregistering themselves on NIRF's website as directed by UGC.
Karnataka State Higher Education Council had decided to rank and rate universities, just few months ago. So, confusion is created among educationists in Karnataka though UGC's this move.
In order to clear its purpose, UGC said regarding NIRF that an ideal environment is the one where ultimate objective of every institution can be achieved. When institutions are constantly adjudged on the basis of excellence in teaching and learning, excellence in research and innovations and excellence in engagement, their objectives become more highlighted. They are expected to provide on their campuses an inspiring learning and living environment. For pursuing a program in any institution of higher learning, these are some of the parameters which are taken into consideration by parents and students so that they can make an informed choice.
The UGC has set different parameters under NIRF to rank institutions.
Ranking institutions at the national level is difficult; this was said by R Chandrashekara, secretary of the Forum of Former Vice-chancellors of Karnataka State Universities. NIRF is not required, as NAAC grades universities. In order to rate universities and colleges, state-level committees are enough.
Chandrashekara pointed out a question that does NIRF have sufficient manpower to assess and rank all institutions in the country.