Mumbai: For students contemplating their academic journey, the choice of university is often a leap of faith. Is mathematics better at Mumbai University or Savitribai Phule Pune University? Where does one find the most distinguished humanities department for English literature? Soon, answers to these perennial questions will come not through word-of-mouth, but through a structured ranking system that sheds light on academic excellence across state.
Drawing inspiration from the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), the state is set to introduce the University Department Ranking Framework (UDRF), an annual evaluation designed to help students make informed decisions while incentivising institutions to strive for excellence. This system will also serve as a funding guide—departments that demonstrate outstanding performance will receive additional grants, while those struggling to keep pace will be given the support they need to rise.
The methodology behind UDRF mirrors the NIRF, assessing departments across key parameters: faculty output, research, and professional activities; and implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP); among others.
Universities will have the flexibility to categorise departments under broad and specialised areas—sciences and technology, commerce and management, humanities and social sciences, interdisciplinary studies, and centres of excellence. Institutions with extensive language faculties may further distinguish between Indian and foreign languages.
Mumbai University VC Ravindra Kulkarni, who spearheaded the initiative, emphasised the transformative potential of UDRF. “This novel evaluation process will motivate departments, schools, and institutes to focus on their strengths, continuously upgrading in line with global standards,” he said. Unlike NIRF, which relies primarily on submitted data, UDRF will incorporate a layer of external validation. Expert committees, led by senior academicians, will verify self-assessed scores and, if necessary, visit departments to ensure accuracy.
Mumbai: For students contemplating their academic journey, the choice of university is often a leap of faith. Is mathematics better at Mumbai University or Savitribai Phule Pune University? Where does one find the most distinguished humanities department for English literature? Soon, answers to these perennial questions will come not through word-of-mouth, but through a structured ranking system that sheds light on academic excellence across state.
Drawing inspiration from the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), the state is set to introduce the University Department Ranking Framework (UDRF), an annual evaluation designed to help students make informed decisions while incentivising institutions to strive for excellence. This system will also serve as a funding guide—departments that demonstrate outstanding performance will receive additional grants, while those struggling to keep pace will be given the support they need to rise.
The methodology behind UDRF mirrors the NIRF, assessing departments across key parameters: faculty output, research, and professional activities; and implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP); among others.
Universities will have the flexibility to categorise departments under broad and specialised areas—sciences and technology, commerce and management, humanities and social sciences, interdisciplinary studies, and centres of excellence. Institutions with extensive language faculties may further distinguish between Indian and foreign languages.
Mumbai University VC Ravindra Kulkarni, who spearheaded the initiative, emphasised the transformative potential of UDRF. “This novel evaluation process will motivate departments, schools, and institutes to focus on their strengths, continuously upgrading in line with global standards,” he said. Unlike NIRF, which relies primarily on submitted data, UDRF will incorporate a layer of external validation. Expert committees, led by senior academicians, will verify self-assessed scores and, if necessary, visit departments to ensure accuracy.