Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Date of this Version
2024
Document Type
Article
Abstract
This study delves into the 2017-2019 NIRF rankings of India's top 20 universities, examining factors such as library spending, faculty quality, and sponsored projects. Despite varying expenditures, some universities displayed unexpected performances in rankings. The study suggests strategies for universities to enhance performance and rankings, aiming to uncover correlations between NIRF ranks and factors like library expenditure, research student count, faculty numbers, and sponsored projects. Data for the study were collected through web content analysis, primarily sourced from the official websites of NIRF. Among the top 20 universities, only IISc, Bengaluru consistently excelled across these factors. Manipal Academy of Higher Education boasted the highest number of faculty members in 2019-20. JNU, New Delhi, led in Ph.D. pursuits, while DU, Delhi, achieved high ranks in IR 2021. Despite substantial library expenditure, HBNI, Mumbai, obtained a lower rank. VIT, Vellore, distinguished itself among part-time Ph.D. students. The study underscores that quality publications positively impacted rankings, highlighting the significance of research investment for overall university ranking enhancement. Furthermore, it found that the parameters set for assessing Indian institutions under NIRF align with those of other world university-ranking agencies. Universities scoring high for research productivity under NIRF also featured prominently in global rankings. Notably, universities from South India excelled in NIRF, indicating a close relationship between scholarly productivity and institutional ranking.