New Delhi: Delhi University (DU) is the most sustainable university in India, but no Indian institution made it to the top 200 in the global Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Sustainability Rankings 2023, released Monday.
Among the 56 Indian universities featured in the rankings, DU claimed the highest spot (220th) globally, and stood 30th in Asia. After DU came the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay and IIT Madras, ranked 303 and 344 respectively.
The University of Toronto claimed the title of the world’s most sustainable university, with the University of California, Berkeley (UCB) securing second position, followed by the University of Manchester in third place.
The ‘QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2024’ — the first edition focussed on social and environmental sustainability performance in higher education institutions — rated 1,397 institutions spanning 95 countries and territories. Universities are evaluated according to governance, social and environmental impact, and how institutions are responding to important global issues.
When it comes to environmental impact indicators, four Indian universities ranked among the world’s top 100 for environmental sustainability — a measure of an institution’s dedication to and application of its sustainability and climate strategies. Among them, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), ranks 49th overall and 10th in Asia. DU stood at 66th place worldwide, followed by IIT Madras at 70th place and Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Bhubaneswar at 81.
Globally, the US took the lead as the most prominently featured country or territory in the rankings, with 209 of its universities ranked, including one within the global top 10. The UK was the second-most represented nation with 93 institutions, two of which are in the top 10. China emerged as the third most-represented, with 90 ranked universities.
However, no Chinese institution is ranked in the top 100.
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How were universities ranked?
In the sustainability rankings, universities were evaluated based on two categories — environmental impact and social impact — each carrying a weight of 45 percent, with an additional 10 per cent for governance. The governance category includes indicators like ethics, transparency, and decision-making. In this category, two Indian universities, Manipal Academy of Higher Education and the University of Delhi, secured positions among the world’s top 200, placing 111th and 167th, respectively.
Ben Sowter, QS senior vice-president, emphasised India’s significant role as one of the world’s largest carbon emitters and the responsibility of its universities in meeting the commitment to achieve net zero by 2070.
“To align with the nation’s environmental commitments, universities need to amplify their research capabilities, foster diversity and inclusivity and invest in high-impact environmental research. Furthermore, as India seeks to enhance its inbound and outbound student mobility, carbon offsetting within the sector will become increasingly necessary,” he added.
Where Indian institutions excel & where they face challenges
While Indian universities showcased commitment to environmental and climate strategies, they face challenges in diversity, inclusivity, and social impact. DU particularly excelled in offering world class education in environmental and climate-related subjects, securing the 16th position globally in QS’s environmental education indicator.
However, the rankings pointed out their low performance in environmental research, where only the IIT’s dominated the domestic scene with IIT Delhi ranking highest at 236th, specifically excelling in research related to sustainable cities and communities.
Two Indian institutions — DU (167th) and the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (111th) — are included among the top 200 universities in the world in the good governance indicator (ethics, hiring practices, transparency and decision-making).
The QS equality indicator, which evaluates staff, professor and student diversity, inclusivity, and student support, presents issues for Indian institutions. Manipal Academy of Higher Education came in at 463rd — the only Indian university among the 500 evaluated under this indicator.
In terms of knowledge exchange — a QS metric that assesses cooperation, resource sharing, and community involvement — DU holds the top spot in India. It is the only Indian university in the global top 100, coming up at position 93 on this index.
In the impact of education indicator, which assesses academic prowess and educational quality in subjects with the greatest potential to generate positive social impact, such as politics, law and education, IIT Kharagpur is the only Indian institution ranked, at 646th position.
IITs also boast of the country’s best graduate opportunities and career prospects, with all five of the country’s top performers in employability and outcomes being IITs, and IIT Bombay placing 199th (highest among Indian institutions). Similarly, in the health and well-being, which analyses relevant research and quality of life for students and staff, IIT-B has the highest rank, 430th globally.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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