17 Indian institutions among Times’ top 800
IISc Bangalore (File Photo). None of the Indian NEW DELHI: The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2015-16 has more Indian institutes from previous editions after the list was expanded to top 800 from 400. But none of them breached the top 200.
The highest ranked institution is the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, placed in 251-300 rank group and the other institution among the top 400 is Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (351-400 cohort).
In all, India has 17 universities in the list, matching its BRIC counterpart Brazil. Among Asian countries China continues to dominate, while Japan and South Korea have fallen behind.
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Phil Baty, the editor of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, said: "It is good news for India that 17 of its institutions feature in this year's list of the world's best universities but it will have to work harder to compete with other emerging economies such as China which has 37 institutions featured in this year's rankings and Russia which has fewer institutions overall but a higher proportion in the upper echelons of the table."READ ALSO: In a first, two Indian institutes make it to world's top 200
"With the population of young people in the country continuing to expand resulting in further pressure on resources, it is now more crucial than ever that India invests in research and strengthens its links with other nations. The government has spoken about improving its universities but is yet to implement an initiative in this area. It will need to act, and fast, if it wants to match up against its fellow BRIC nations and the rising stars in Asia," he said.
In Asia, the National University of Singapore holds Asia's number one spot (in 26th place) while China's two leading universities (Peking and Tsinghua) are firmly established in the world's elite top 50 group at 42nd and joint 47th respectively.
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Japan has two institutions in the top 200, University of Tokyo (43rd) and Kyoto University (joint 88th), while South Korea has four institutions in the top 200: Seoul National University (85th), Pohang University of Science and Technology (116th), the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (148th) and Sungkyunkwan University (153rd). Hong Kong has three institutions in the top 200: the University of Hong Kong (joint 44th), the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (59th) and the Chinese University of Hong Kong (joint 138th).
Baty said: "It is a mixed picture for Asia. China's two leading universities, Peking and Tsinghua, are firmly established within the world's top 50. Singapore is another strong performer - it now boasts Asia's number one university, the National University of Singapore in 26th place, and its compatriot, Nanyang Technological University, sits in its highest ever place, 55th. But tough times for Japan and disappointment for South Korea mean that leading Asian nations' grip on the higher ranks of the World University Rankings is loose."
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