In previous articles, we’ve gained insight into the essence of NIRF (National Institutional Ranking Framework) and the criteria utilized to assess Higher Educational Institutions in India. This article delves into the methodology used for scoring and computation, streamlining the process of evaluating these institutions and assigning them their respective ranks.
The NIRF score takes into account several key factors when ranking institutions. They include the following:
Teaching, Learning, and Resources
This parameter evaluates factors such as –
1. Student Strength Including Doctoral Students (SS): 20 Marks
SS = f(NT, NE) × 15 + f(NP) × 5
The functions f(NT, NE) and f(Np) are functions to be determined by NIRF.
NT: Total sanctioned approved intake in the institution considering all UG and PG programs.
NE: Total number of students enrolled in the institution considering all UG and PG programs.
Np = Total number of students enrolled for the doctoral program till the previous academic year.
2. Faculty-Student Ratio with Emphasis on Permanent Faculty (FSR): 30 Marks
FSR = 30 × [15 × (F/N)]
N =NT+ N
F: Full-time regular faculty in the institution in the previous year.
Regular appointment means Faculty on a full-time basis. Faculty on a contract basis/ad-hoc basis will be considered if the concerned faculty has taught in both semesters of the concerned academic year.
Faculty members with Ph.D. and master’s degrees will be considered and counted here. Faculty members with a Bachelor’s degree will not be counted.
The expected ratio is 1:15 to score maximum marks
For F/N < 1: 50, FSR will be set to Zero (0)
3. The Combined Metric for Faculty with Ph.D. (or equivalent) and Experience (FQE): 20 Marks
FQ = 10 × (FRA/95) , FRA < 95%; FQ = 10, FRA ≥ 95%,
FQE = FQ + FE
Here FRA is the percentage of Faculty with Ph.D. (or equivalent qualification) with respect to the total number of faculty required or actual faculty whichever is higher, in the previous year.
F1: Fraction with Experience up to 8 years;
F2: Fraction with Experience between 8+ to 15 years;
F3: Fraction with Experience > 15 years.
4. Financial Resources and Their Utilisation (FRU): 30 Marks
FRU = 7.5×f(BC) + 22.5×f(BO)
BC: Average Annual Capital Expenditure per student for the previous three years. (Excluding expenditure on construction of new buildings)
BO: Average Annual Operational (or Recurring) Expenditure per student for the previous three years. (Excluding maintenance of hostels and allied services)
Research and Professional Practice
This parameter evaluates factors such as
1. Combined Metric for Publications (PU): 35 Marks
PU = 35 × f(P/FRQ)
P: Weighted number of publications as ascertained from suitable third-party sources.
FRQ: The maximum of nominal number of faculty members as calculated on the basis of a required FSR of 1:15 or the available faculty in the institution.
2. Combined Metric for Quality of Publications (QP): 35 Marks
QP = 20 × f (CC/FRQ) + 15× f (TOP25P/P)
Here CC is the Total Citation Count over the previous three years.
P is as computed for PU.
TOP25P: Number of citations in the top 25 percentile averaged over the previous three years.
FRQ: The maximum of nominal number of faculty members as calculated on the basis of a required FSR of 1:15 or the available faculty in the institution.
3. IPR and Patents: Published and Granted (IPR): 15 Marks
IPR = IPG + IPP
IPG = 10× f (PG)
IPP = 5 × f (PP)
PG: No. of patents granted over the previous three years.
PP: No. of patents published over the previous three years.
4. Footprint of Projects and Professional Practice (FPPP): 15 Marks
FPPP = FPR + FPC + EDP
FPR = 5 × f(RF)
FPC =5 × f(CF)
EDP = 5 × f(EP)
RF: Average annual research funding earnings (amount received in rupees) at the institute level in the previous three years.
CF: Average annual consultancy amount (the amount actually received in rupees) at the institute level in the previous three years.
EP: Average annual earnings from Full Time Executive Development Programs of a minimum duration of one year in the previous three years.
Graduation Outcomes
It measures factors like the percentage of students placed in jobs, the median salary of graduates, and their success in competitive exams.
1. Metric for University Examinations (GUE): 60 Marks
GUE = 60 × min [(Ng/80), 1]
Ng: The percentage of Students (as a fraction of the approved intake), averaged over the previous three years, passing the respective university examinations in the stipulated time for the program in which enrolled.
2. Metric for Number of Ph.D. Students Graduated (GPHD): 40 Marks
GPHD = 40 × f(Nphd)
Nphd: Average number of Ph.D. students who graduated (awarded Ph.D.) over the previous three years.
Outreach and Inclusivity
This parameter looks at the institution’s efforts to promote diversity and inclusion and its engagement with the community and social outreach programs.
1. Percentage of Students from Other States/Countries (Region Diversity RD): 30 Marks
RD = 25 × fraction of total students enrolled from other states + 5 × fraction of students enrolled from other countries.
2. Percentage of Women (Women Diversity WD): 30 Marks
WD = 15 × (NWS/50) + 15 × (NWF/20)
NWS is the percentage of Women students.
NWF is the percentage of Women Faculty including women members in senior administrative positions, such as Heads of Departments, Deans, or Institute Heads.
Expectation: 50% women students and 20% women faculty.
3. Economically and Socially Challenged Students (ESCS): 20 Marks
ESCS = 20 × f(Nesc)
Nesc: The percentage of UG or PG students being provided full tuition fee reimbursement by the institution to pursue their degree programs.
4. Facilities for Physically Challenged Students (PCS): 20 Marks
PCS = 20 marks, if the Institute provides full facilities for physically challenged students, as outlined. Else, in proportion to facilities.
Perception Ranking
This component gathers feedback from various stakeholders, including students, faculty, employers, and the general public, to gauge the institution’s reputation.
1. Academic Peers and Employers (PR): 100 Marks
This is to be done through a survey conducted over a large category of Employers, Professionals from reputable organizations, and a large variety of academics to ascertain their preference for graduates of different institutions. A comprehensive list will be prepared considering various sectors, regions, etc.
Upon assessing these parameters, NIRF assigns an overall score to each institution, subsequently ranking them accordingly. These NIRF rankings hold significant importance in the Indian educational landscape, serving as a crucial benchmark. Students and parents rely on these rankings to make well-informed decisions about their higher education choices. Additionally, the NIRF rankings serve as a catalyst for institutions, motivating them to enhance their educational and research standards in their pursuit of improved rankings.