HPU 52nd among top 150 varsities

Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 2

Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) has been ranked 52nd among the top 150 government universities in the country by leading education magazine, Education World, in its 2020-21 survey.

Virtual smart classrooms

The Covid-19 pandemic has made us realise the importance of computerisation and information and communication system. We have placed an order for purchasing 200 computers. The university proposes to have virtual smart classrooms and computer labs in all departments so that 30 to 40 per cent of teaching could be online. — Sikander Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, HPU

The ranking is based on the data of NAAC and the parameters included competence of faculty, welfare of faculty, development, research and innovation, curriculum and pedagogy, industry interface, placement, infrastructure and facilities, internationalism, leadership and governance quality and range of diversity programmes offered.

The HPU secured 847 out of 1,300 points and the major score was given for the competence of faculty, research and innovation and infrastructure and facilities. Last year, the National Institution Rating Framework (NIRF) had put the HPU in the 150-200 bracket and it was ranked 164th. The NIRF ranking for the current year, which has been delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, is still awaited.

Vice-Chancellor Sikander Kumar has congratulated the faculty, non-teaching employees and students for the achievement. He said, “It is a great achievement, as the ranking is based on the data of NAAC, obtained 70 per cent through online updates by the university and 30 per cent by physical inspection”.

He attributed the better ranking to strengthening of the NAAC internal quality assurance cell and removal of shortcomings like approval of the construction of guesthouse at a cost of Rs 10 crore, and placement cell pointed by the NAAC team in 2016.