Page 83 - EW 1-156 May 2024

(150), research and innovation (300)
and infrastructure (150).
Within the category of govern-
ment varsities, multidisciplinary
institutions are more popular with
students as they provide a wide
range of study programmes across
numerous faculties including arts,
humanities, science, commerce,
management, engineering and tech-
nology etc, thus offering opportunity
for inter-disciplinary study. Conse-
quently, it’s not surprising that the
longest league table in EWIHER
2024-25 is of government multidis-
ciplinary universities.
And dominating this competitive
league table for the third con-
secutive year is the University of
Delhi (DU). This year’s EW sample Jadavpur's Prof. Buddhadeb Sau (centre): complex politics exit
respondents have once again voted
the Central government-promoted (JNU), Delhi #4 (#3), Jadavpur The lack of cooperation and
DU (estb.1922) India’s #1 govern- University, Kolkata #5 (#4) while absence of cohesion experienced
ment multi-disciplinary university Aligarh Muslim University by Sau is rooted in campus poli-
with top scores under seven of the (AMU) has retained its #6 rank. tics. In the past year, JU and the
ten parameters of higher education The Top 10 table is completed by state’s other ten public universities
excellence, viz, faculty competence, the University of Hyderabad at have become battle grounds of the
research and innovation (given high- #7 (#5), Savitribai Phule Pune Trinamool Congress (TMC) state
est weightage of 300), infrastructure University #8 (#7), Panjab government and West Bengal Gov-
and range/diversity of programmes. University, Chandigarh #9 (#8) ernor Ananda Bose, a (BJP) Central
The showpiece DU has 77 colleges and Bharathidasan University, government appointee.
affiliated with it in the national Trichy #10 (#8). In his capacity as ex officio
capital including the top-ranked Prof. Buddhadeb Sau, interim chancellor of all universities state-
St. Stephen’s, Shri Ram College of Vice Chancellor of the West Bengal wide, last year Bose controversially
Commerce, Miranda House and government-promoted Jadavpur appointed interim vice chancellors
Lady Shri Ram College. However University (estb.1905), which has of all 11 state universities (includ-
notwithstanding its popularity — or slipped from #4 last year to #5 in ing JU). These appointments were
because of it — several emails and the 2024-25 league table of India’s immediately revoked by the state’s
phone calls to Vice Chancellor Prof. most reputed government multi- TMC government. In particular,
Yogesh Singh to elicit the secrets disciplinary universities, dismisses Sau’s appointment as VC generated
of DU’s success proved unsuccessful. media rankings surveys as “eye much criticism as he doesn’t have
The vintage University of wash”. “These ranking surveys are the minimum ten years’ teaching
Mumbai (estb.1857), which was for those who don’t want to involve experience that is mandatory for the
jointly ranked #1 with DU in 2022- themselves in deep research. In post of VC. Moreover, it was alleged
23, is ranked #2 this year. However, my opinion, rankings should be that he is sympathetic to the BJP
its management can draw solace that computed on the placement record government at the Centre.
MU is ranked #1 on the important of HEIs and high quality research On April 16, the Supreme Court
parameters of industry interface and work, which excludes number of directed Governor Ananda Bose to
student placement. research papers published,” says appoint “suitable persons” as vice-
Further down top table too, Prof. Sau. While Sau is pleased with chancellors of six state universities
there’s been a rearrangement of the high score awarded to JU for its from a list of candidates provided by
seats with several universities losing range/diversity of programmes, he the TMC government. Consequently
ground. Banaras Hindu Univer- believes greater inter-department on the TMC’s advice, on April 23
sity is ranked #3 (#2 in 2023-24), cooperation would raise JU’s total Governor Bose appointed Prof.
Jawaharlal Nehru University score and rank. Bhaskar Gupta as the new VC

MAY 2024 EDUCATIONWORLD 83