Page 47 - EW May 2023_Neat

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

MAY 2023 EDUCATIONWORLD 47