Indian Higher Education Institutions

Context (TH): Private universities in India are rapidly advancing in global rankings, surpassing public institutions through deliberate internationalization strategies and a heightened emphasis on research output.

• Internationalization of Higher Education incorporates a global outlook into teaching, learning, and research, promoting graduates who are culturally aware and globally proficient.

Key Findings of the Report

• Global Ranking Participation: Indian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are increasingly engaging in global rankings. Private universities have seen their participation rise from 35% in 2023 to 52% by 2025.
• Increase in Globally Ranked Universities: India has witnessed an uptick in universities featured in the top 500 of the QS World University Rankings 2025, with 11 Indian institutions making the list. This progress aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020’s goal of internationalization by 2030.
• Performance of Private vs. Public Institutions: While public universities have seen their rankings remain largely unchanged, 84% of private institutions have improved their global standings over the past three years.

Reasons Why Private Institutions Are Surpassing Public Ones

• Enhanced Research Productivity: Private universities are increasingly recruiting faculty members with robust research credentials, leading to higher publication rates. Collaborations with publishers such as Springer, Elsevier, and IEEE enhance research visibility and citation counts.
• Active International Engagement: Private HEIs are actively participating in global networks, which boosts their rankings in international faculty and research network metrics. For instance, Saveetha University achieved the highest ranking among Indian institutions for international faculty in QS 2025.
• Faculty Support: Private institutions offer reimbursements to faculty and reduce teaching loads, supporting their academic endeavors. Symbiosis International University, for example, earned a high ranking in employer reputation in QS 2025.

Challenges for Indian HEIs in Achieving Higher Global Rankings

• Research Funding: The high Article Processing Charges (APCs) for publishing in international journals restrict many researchers from accessing publication opportunities.
• Limited Global Interaction: Indian HEIs have relatively low numbers of international students, with Amity University scoring the highest at 21.1.
• Reliance on Reputation Metrics: Global rankings place significant weight on “reputation,” which can disadvantage newer institutions or those with less international exposure.

Initiatives and Recommendations

• Financial Support for HEIs: Implement APC reimbursements and promote partnerships to reduce the financial burden of submissions. An example is the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) program.
• Encourage International Collaborations: Develop academic partnerships globally to enhance reputation and visibility. The “Study in India” initiative aims to boost the enrollment of foreign students in Indian universities.
• Enhance Research Quality and Incentives: Provide better support for high-quality research and encourage participation in global rankings. The Institutes of Eminence (IoE) initiative is designed to help institutions meet international standards.