Kashmir University ranks 14th best among SPUs

Srinagar, Aug 12: The University of Kashmir (KU) has achieved a significant milestone in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) Rankings 2024, securing the 14th position among State Public Universities (SPUs) across India.

The rankings, released by the Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of India, also place KU among the top 50 universities nationwide, further solidifying its status as a premier institution of higher learning.

In a statement KU spokesperson said the varsity’s impressive standing places it ahead of several prestigious institutions, including Jammu University, Mumbai University, Mysore University, Bangalore University, Delhi Technological University, King George’s Medical University, Gujarat University, Annamalai University, University of Lucknow, among others.

In the overall national rankings, KU has secured the 69th position among the top 100 educational institutions in the country, which includes IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology), IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management), IISERs (Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research), NISERs (National Institutes of Science Education and Research) and other prestigious institutions.

This achievement is particularly noteworthy given the increased competition this year, with 10,885 institutions participating in the ranking process – nearly double the number from last year (5,543).

In her congratulatory message, KU Vice-Chancellor Prof Nilofer Khan, expressed her gratitude to the university community for its dedication and hardwork.

She acknowledged the contributions of all the stakeholders especially complementing team DIQA (Directorate of Internal Quality Assurance) led by Prof Manzoor Ahmad Shah for making concerted efforts in achieving this feat.

“Our university has consistently strived for academic excellence and this recognition reflects our continuous commitment to providing quality education, encouraging high-end research and developing state-of-the-art infrastructure,” she said, while thanking the faculty, officers, research scholars, students and members of the supporting staff for doing a commendable job in positioning the varsity in the list of top-ranking universities of the country.

Sharing his delight on the latest development in university rankings, KU Registrar, Prof Naseer Iqbal, said that KU is satisfied with the latest NIRF Rankings and is committed to further improve its performance across domains.

“We are pleased with our standing this year and remain committed to further enhancing our performance across all domains. KU’s consistent presence in the top 50 universities nationwide since the introduction of the NIRF Rankings and our leading position in Jammu and Kashmir are sources of great pride for the entire university community,” Prof Naseer said.

Director, DIQA, Prof Manzoor Ahmad Shah, highlighted the significance of this achievement in light of the increased competition.

“With around 11,000 institutions participating this year as against just over 5,000 last year, securing the 14th best among SPUs and figuring in the list of 50 elite universities, is a reflection of our quality discourse in academics, research and extension,” Prof Manzoor said.

Currently, KU is ranked Grade A by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and is preparing for its next NAAC accreditation cycle, with aspirations to achieve the highest possible grade this year.