Page 41 - EW June 2021 Low Res

league table of private universities is
of the Times of India Group’s Ben-
nett University (BU, estb. 2016),
Greater Noida, Delhi NCR which has
pole vaulted to #16 (59).
Dr. Prabhu Aggarwal, vice
chancellor of this greenfield varsity
which has vaulted into the national
Top 20 — and Top 3 in Uttar Pradesh
(pop. 2015 million) — in a mere five
years since it admitted its first batch,
attributes this achievement to this
young varsity’s highly qualified fac-
ulty. “Ninety percent of our 154 fac-
ulty have Ph D qualifications with
over 500 publications in internation-
ally respected refereed academic jour-
nals. This has resulted in our very first
batches of graduates receiving excel-
lent industry placement offers, and
entrepreneurship opportunities,” says
Aggarwal, an alumnus of IIT-Kanpur Bennett University main block: TOI support advantage. Inset: Dr. Prabhu Aggarwal
with postgrad and doctorate qualifica-
tions from the University of Washing- University, Bajhol, Himachal the top-ranked private university in
ton, Seattle and valuable teaching ex- Pradesh to #20 (22) and #1 in HP, Maharashtra (pop. 112 million), In-
perience at the reputed Mason School and Chitkara University, Chandi- dia’s most industrialised state and
of Business, USA (1992-2011) after garh to #20 (33). #1 in Mumbai, the country’s business
which he returned to India to serve as Among the Top 30, star performer and finance capital. Similarly Amity
the founding vice chancellor of O.P. varsities include NIIT, Neemrana University, Rajarhat ranked #27
Jindal University, Raigarh (2014-18). #22 (57), Amity, Gurgaon #23 (52), nationally is #1 in West Bengal (pop.
This was followed by a brief stint as the previously unranked Jamia Mil- 91 million); Shoolini University
president of NIIT University, prior to lia Islamia debuting at #24, Amity, ranked #20 nationally is #1 in Him-
being appointed as VC of Bennett U Lucknow #24 (50), Amity, Jaipur achal Pradesh (pop. 7.5 million); and
early this year. #26 (58), Manav Rachna Interan- Royal Global, Gauhati India #59 is
ooking ahead, Aggarwal is high- tional, Faridabad #26 (36) and Sir #1 in Assam (pop. 36 million).
ly optimistic about BU continu- Padampat Singhania, Udaipur The field survey methodology ad-
Ling its bull run up the EW and #28 (55). opted by C fore which conducts all EW
other domestic and international uni- Other stellar performers of 2021- annual rankings (preschools, schools,
versity ranking charts. “A great advan- 22: Jagran Lakecity, Bhopal #30 colleges and universities) is that in-
tage we have is the unstinted support (35), Presidency, Bangalore #32 stitutions rated by less than 25 re-
of the 180-year-old Times of India (35), Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, spondents are not ranked at all. Thus
Group which has attained leadership Pune #34 (46), VIT, Bhopal #35 obscure, low-profile education institu-
position in all its publications and in (69), Marwadi, Rajkot #36 (88) tions are eliminated from our ranking
every segment of the media industry. and the well-advertised Sharada league tables.
This legacy rules out all mediocrity in University, Noida #37 (61). Currently India hosts 375 private
thought or action. We are confident Moreover it’s important to note universities. Therefore being listed
that our faculty and students will that universities that are modestly among the Top 125 is an achievement
continue to make us proud year after ranked in the national league tables in itself. Our laborious endeavour of
year,” says Aggarwal. may well be higher education heavy- providing readers national, state and
Further down the Top 20 table weights in their host states, most of parameter rankings of India’s best
several private universities have which are more populous than many private universities is to enable school
improved their ranking this year. countries around the world. leaving students opting to choose pri-
Among them: the low-profile NTTE Thus the Narsee Monjee In- vate autonomous universities to select
University, Mangaluru with a long stitute of Management Stud- institutions in sync with their apti-
jump forward to #19 (37), Shoolini ies, Mumbai ranked India #9 is tudes and career aspirations.

JUNE 2021 EDUCATIONWORLD 41