KOCHI: The Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) has found a place among the best universities in the world, in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2016-17. Cusat is one among the 31 institutions in the country, and the only one in Kerala, to be ranked in the global survey. Cusat stands at the 800+ position.
The Indian Institute of Science-Banglore (IISc) was adjudged the best among the Indian institutions. IIT-Bombay, IIT-Delhi, IIT-Kanpur and IIT Madras (ranked 401-500); and IIT-Kharagpur and IIT-Roorkee (ranked 501-600) are some of the leading institutes in the country that found a place in the ranking. A total of 19 institutions from India are among the top 800, and 12 in the 801-980 band. Overall, there are 31 institutions, including 14 new names, from the country in the list of 980. However, there is no Indian university in the top-200 list.
This year, the overall topper in the ranking is the University of Oxford, followed by five-time topper California Institute of Technology. Meanwhile, the Stanford University ranked third.
South Asia has almost doubled its representation in this year’s list, claiming 39 places, compared to 20 last year. Sri Lanka has made its debut in the ranking, with the University of the Colombo entering the 801+ band. Pakistan has five new entries, taking the total to seven.
“I came to know about the ranking through news reports. I understand the ranking is based on research projects carried out by the varsities.
There has not been any official communication in this regard,” said Cusat vice-chancellor J Letha. Though Cusat’s rank is 801+, it gathers significance considering the fact that it has been ranked in a global survey of the best institutions,” added Letha.