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Chancellor Dr. Atul Chauhan
         has transformed the flagship Amity
         University into India’s #1 multidis-
         ciplinary varsity (its total score in
         EWIHER 2023-24 is greater than
         of Delhi University). With top score
         under the parameters of curriculum
         & pedagogy (including digital readi-
         ness), industry interface, placements,
         leadership quality and infrastruc-
         ture, Amity Noida has notched up
         the highest score nationwide among
         all multidisciplinary universities.
           It’s almost impossible for the
         4,223 SEC (socio-economic category)
         ‘A’ sample respondents including
         HEI faculty, senior students and
         industry leaders to not be influenced
         by the Amity ad blitz unleashed
         on all English language television   MAHE VC Dr. Venkatesh (left) with President Dr. Ranjan Pai (centre)
         news channels which list several
         encomiums that Amity U, Noida has   way, they are likely to regret this.”   Venkatesh. The flagship institu-
         received from Indian and foreign   Although evidently disappointed   tion of the transnational Manipal
         (QS and THE) university ranking   that the relatively low-profile   Education and Medical Group, the
         agencies. This perhaps also explains   MAHE (Manipal Academy of   multidisciplinary MAHE currently
         the high ranking of Amity, Lucknow,   Higher Education, estb.1953) is   has an enrolment of 34,000 students
         Jaipur, Kolkata and Gurugram —   ranked India’s second most admired   mentored by 3,400 faculty.
         all high ranked in their host states.   university for the second year in   Be that as it may, the thunder in
         Moreover, the Amity Group has    succession, Dr. Lt. Gen. (Retd.)   this year’s rankings has been stolen
         established several campuses abroad   D. Venkatesh, former dean of the   by the Sonipat-based new genre
         — London, New York, Dubai and    prestigious Armed Forces Medical   crowd-funded Ashoka University
         Singapore — and has emerged as the   College, Pune who served in India’s   (estb.2014). Until last year, Ashoka
         country’s premier higher education   defence services for 38 years before   was a highly (#2) ranked private
         multinational.                   taking charge as vice chancellor of   liberal arts and humanities uni-
           And although most business il-  MAHE in 2020, draws comfort that   versity. But earlier this year, they
         literate academics tend to disapprove    the informed EW sample respon-  alerted your editors that they have
         of Amity’s media campaign, a senior   dents have awarded MAHE the   introduced a broad-based science
         advertising guru who preferred   highest score under the parameters   study programme and requested
         anonymity places it into perspective.   of research and innovation, and   that Ashoka be moved to the private
         “Claims made in mass media are a   infrastructure.                multidisciplinary category. And to
         public challenge to rivals and the   “In MAHE, we accord high     its credit, it has debuted at #3 in this
         media to prove them wrong. If they   importance to research and develop-  category with highest scores under
         remain unchallenged by the ranking   ment. Over the past five years we   the parameters of curriculum &
         agencies themselves and competing   have added 60,000 sq. ft built-up   pedagogy (incl. digital readiness) and
         universities, it means they are true.   area for expansion of our research,   internationalism.
         Amity is the first Indian education   innovation, and incubation facilities,   “The visionary board and man-
         institution to have understood the   investing Rs.150 crore per year on   agement of Ashoka U introduced
         importance of branding. Brand-   research-related activities to enable   a Science School way back in 2018
         ing is important not only to attract   our faculty to immerse themselves   to teach several science subjects —
         students but also faculty, research   in basic and applied research. I am   physics, chemistry and math and
         funding and endowments. Very few   glad your sample respondents have   also biology, computer science, data
         Indian education institutions have   acknowledged our expansion of   science and psychology — and we
         understood this. Now with foreign   research capabilities by also award-  have already graduated batches of
         K-12 school chains and universities   ing us the highest score under the   students in some of these subjects.
         authorised to enter India in a big   infrastructure parameter,” says Gen.   Therefore, compliance with the NEP

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