A sample database of 4,465 knowledgeable respondents — 2,133 higher education faculty, 1,368 final year students of 164 universities and 964 industry representatives — rated and ranked India’s top 100 private universities 2017-18 on ten parameters of education excellence – Dilip Thakore Top-ranked for the second consecutive year in the EducationWorld India Private University Rankings (EWIPUR) 2017-18, this year the Manipal (Karnataka)-based Manipal University (MU) has to share top billing with the fast-track Amity University, Noida (Delhi NCR/Uttar Pradesh). A sample database of 4,465 knowledgeable respondents — including 2,133 higher eduation faculty, 1,368 final year students of 164 universities, and 964 industry representatives in 25 cities — rated India’s Top 100 private universities (out of a total of 260) on ten parameters of education excellence, viz, competence of faculty, faculty welfare and development, research and innovation, curriculum and pedagogy, industry interface, infrastructure, internationalism, placement record, leadership and diversity of study programmes. Top-ranked on the parameters of internationalism, infrastructure and diversity of study programmes, the fast-growing Amity University, which advertises its achievements heavily on national English news and sports channels and was ranked #3 last year, has vaulted to #1 position, which it shares with MU this year. As a result, there’s been a re-arrangement of the seating order at the Top 10 table of private universities in 2017-18. The Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS)-Pilani (Rajasthan) ranked second last year is #3 this year followed by VIT University at #4 (#5 in 2016-17) and the newbie Ashoka University (estb. 2014), which has risen spectacularly in the public esteem, is ranked #5 (9). “I am elated that Manipal is ranked India’s #1 private university by EducationWorld in its 2017 league tables for the second year in succession. This has been a very satisfying year for Manipal University in terms of performance and recognition. In the Central government’s NIRF 2017 league table released in April, MU is ranked #1 in Karnataka above all universities, including public universities and #18 in India. Similarly, we have also been well-ranked in the BRICS and Asia rankings of the London-based QS and Times Higher Education, and for the first time we have been featured in Times Higher Education World specialty lists for medicine and pharmacy. Although I am pleased with our overall ranking I would have been happier if we were top-ranked for academics, research, faculty and reputation. But we are working on these issues and I am certain we will soon get there,” says Dr. Vinod Bhat, FRCS and alumnus of Glasgow University who signed up with MU in 1988 and was appointed vice chancellor in 2015. Currently, Manipal University’s 20 schools offer 381 study programmes to 33,563 students mentored by 2,645 faculty. Dr. Atul Chauhan, chancellor of Amity University, Noida (AU, estb. 2003), is equally elated that this fast-track institution which has since engendered the promotion of nine clones in seven states across India and eight abroad, is jointly ranked India’s #1 private university this year. “It’s a matter of great pride for…
