Page 63 - EW 1-156 May 2024

ings and rank the country’s most
admired Top 100 private engineering
and technology universities. Since
then, we have been ranking private
undergrad colleges and private
universities separately, even though
some private engineering colleges
awarded deemed university status
are listed in both league tables.
In EWIHER 2024-25, the Birla
Institute of Technology and Sci-
ence (BITS)-Pilani has retained its
#1 rank as the country’s pre-eminent
private engineering university for the
third year in succession. The 2,100
sample respondents interviewed for
this exercise, awarded BITS-Pilani
promoted by pioneer industry mag-
nate the late G.D. Birla (1894-1983)
in 1964, top scores under six of the
ten parameters of engineering and TIET's Dr. Padmakumar Nair (centre right): India #2, Punjab #1
technology excellence, viz, compe-
tence of faculty, faculty welfare & par with the best IITs,” says Ramgo- Institute of Technology Univer-
development, research & innovation, pal Rao, who attributes the insti- sity (#2 in 2023-24). The Interna-
placement, infrastructure, and lead- tute’s modest NIRF ranking to its tional Institute of Information
ership/governance. “low profile in government circles”. Technology, Hyderabad #3 (3)
Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao, According to Prof. Rao, the insti- is followed by the Dhirubhai Am-
an alum of IIT-Bombay and Uni- tute’s USP (unique selling propo- bani Institute of Information
versitat der Bundeswehr, Munich sition) is its strong connect with & Communication Technology,
(Germany) and former director of industry and its rigorous internships Gandhinagar at #4 (3) and BML
IIT-Delhi, who took charge last year and “practice schools” programme in Munjal University, Gurgaon at
as Vice Chancellor of BITS-Pilani which students can work in industry #5 (6).
which has established five campuses for an entire semester before gradua- Dr. Padmakumar Nair, Direc-
including Dabolim (Goa), Mohali tion. “One of the infirmities of Indian tor of the Thapar Institute of Engi-
(Punjab) and Dubai and has an ag- higher education is that it tends to be neering & Technology, Patiala (TIET,
gregate 18,000 students mentored too theoretical. Our highly successful estb. 1986), is pleased that TIET has
by 470 faculty, is not surprised by internship and longer duration prac- retained its #2 India and #1 Punjab
the top rank awarded to this institute tice schools programmes prepare ranking for the third year in succes-
by EW sample respondents year after students to become job-ready and sion. “TIET has always been ranked
year. hit the ground running when they among the top engineering educa-
“Within academia and industry graduate,” he told EducationWorld, tion institutions in all media surveys.
from where your sample respondents which interviewed him last month We are also ranked India #22 in the
are drawn, BITS-Pilani’s record as a when BITS-Pilani — which also ad- Union education ministry’s latest
research powerhouse and incubator mits higher secondary school-leavers NIRF rankings, outperforming sever-
of start-ups is well-known. Over the into its undergrad programmes — al IITs and NITs,” says Nair, an alum
past few years, 6,400 BITS-Pilani was voted India’s premier engineer- of IIT Kharagpur and Heriot-Watt
alumni have founded start-ups ing college. University, UK appointed Director of
valued at $60 billion of which 15 In the EW 2024-25 private TIET in 2023.
are unicorns. Our research output engineering & technology league Nair believes that over the past 58
cited in reputed refereed journals table, BITS-Pilani is followed by years TIET has established a stellar
is among the Top 5 in India. And, the low-profile Thapar Institute reputation for its “excellent infra-
the median remuneration awarded of Engineering & Technology structure, robust placement record,
to our graduates is Rs.20-22 lakh. Deemed University, Patiala exceptional faculty, emphasis on
Within academia and industry, which has retained its #2 rank and research, and strategic partnerships
BITS-Pilani is commonly placed on a is jointly ranked with the Vellore with foreign universities”. “We are

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