Why in news:

• The absence of Haryana institutions from the top 100 in the 'overall' category for the fifth consecutive year has signaled a worrying trend that highlights the need for improvement in the state's educational landscape.

Key Points:

• It is noteworthy here that the last time a Haryana institution made it to the top 100 was in 2019, when Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, was ranked 89th, which suggests that the state's institutions have been struggling to maintain their competitiveness.

Factors contributing to poor performance: Identifying the gaps

• The lack of investment in education infrastructure and research facilities has hindered the growth of Haryana institutions, making it difficult for them to compete with their counterparts in other states.
• The inadequate faculty strength and quality have also been a major concern, as institutions struggle to attract and retain top talent.
• Limited industry-academia collaboration and partnerships have further exacerbated the problem, as institutions fail to provide students with the skills and knowledge required by the industry.
• The insufficient focus on innovation and entrepreneurship has also meant that Haryana institutions have been unable to foster a culture of innovation and risk-taking.

University Rankings: A mixed bag

• Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Ambala, has been ranked 71st in the universities category, which is a commendable achievement, but still a far cry from the top 100 in the overall category.
• Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies, Faridabad, has earned the 92nd spot in the universities category, which suggests that the some of the institutions in the state are on the right track, but still needs to improve.
• The absence of government universities and the Central University of Haryana, Mahendragarh, from the top 100 is a cause for concern, as it highlights the need for improvement in the state's public education system.

Implications of poor University rankings: A wake-up call

• The poor performance of Haryana institutions in the university rankings has serious implications, including reduced attractiveness to students and faculty, limited access to research funding and collaborations, and decreased reputation and credibility.
• In addition to that, various academicians have pointed out that the potential brain drain and loss of talent are also major concerns, as top students and faculty may choose to opt for institutions in other states that offer better opportunities.

College and Research Institution rankings: A disappointing performance

• The absence of colleges from Haryana from the top 100 in the country is a disappointing performance, which highlights the need for improvement in the state's college education system.
• The lack of representation from Research Institutions, Innovation, Architecture and Planning, or Open University from Haryana is also a cause for concern, as it is indicative of the fact that the state's institutions are not making a significant impact in these areas.

Engineering College Rankings: A silver lining

• The National Institute of Technology (NIT), Kurukshetra, is the only institution from Haryana to have made it to the top 100 in the engineering colleges category, which is a commendable achievement.
• However, the institution's rank has fallen from 58th in 2023 to 81st this year, which suggests that it needs to improve its performance to maintain its competitiveness.

Way Forward

• Looking ahead, the poor performance of Haryana institutions in the NIRF India Rankings 2024 is a wake-up call for the state's educational landscape.

• In order to improve their performance, the state government as well as the institutions need to focus on faculty development and recruitment, industry-academia collaboration and partnerships, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
• In addition to that, the state government also needs to increase investment in education infrastructure and research facilities to support the growth of institutions.
• With a concerted effort, involving collaborative effort of multiple stakeholders, the state of Haryana’s institutions can improve their rankings and become more competitive in the national and global education landscape, thereby becoming batter  conduits for improving the employability quotient of the state's unemployed population.