Unveiling the Reasons Behind IIT BHU's Absence from the QS World University Rankings

Why does IIT BHU Varanasi not feature in the prestigious QS World University Rankings? This article delves into the possible reasons behind its absence, providing a comprehensive understanding of the issues involved.

Potential Reasons for IIT BHU's Absence from the QS Rankings

There could be several potential reasons why IIT BHU has not been included in the QS World University Rankings. These include data submission issues, ranking criteria mismatch, focus on alternative rankings, and the institution's status as an emerging player.

Data Submission

QS rankings are heavily dependent on universities submitting accurate and relevant data about their programs, faculty research output, and other key metrics. If IIT BHU has not submitted this data or has chosen not to participate in the ranking process, it would naturally not appear in the rankings.

Ranking Criteria

QS rankings adhere to specific criteria, such as academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-to-student ratio, citations per faculty, international faculty and students, and inbound/outbound exchange students. If IIT BHU does not meet certain thresholds in these areas, it may not qualify for a ranking.

Focus on Other Rankings

Some institutions, including IIT BHU, may prioritize other global rankings, such as the Times Higher Education (THE) rankings or the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU). These other rankings might align better with their strategic goals and focus areas.

Emerging Institution

As a relatively younger institution in the context of global rankings, IIT BHU may still be building its reputation and research output to meet the criteria set by QS. It is an emerging player, and it may take some time for it to reach the necessary benchmarks.

Unofficial Observations and Potential Reasons

Based on unofficial observations, there are several potential reasons why IIT BHU has not participated in QS rankings. The following points are offered as perspective, rather than definitive proof:

Ranking Criteria and Performance

The ranking criteria used by QS include academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-to-student ratio, citations per faculty, papers per faculty, proportion of international faculty and students, and exchange students. IIT BHU generally falls short in many of these areas.

Citations per Faculty and Papers per Faculty: While research at IIT BHU is growing, it is still in its initial stages, and thus, the citations and papers per faculty are relatively low.

International Faculty and Students: Despite being a university, there are very few international faculty and students, which impacts the international faculty and student ratios.

Exchange Programs: Exchange programs remain a major challenge, leading to a low number of inbound and outbound exchange students.

Student Interests and Quality

Another critical observation is the students' focus on research versus industry-oriented fields such as software development, data analytics, and finance. Additionally, the quality of students admitted into IIT BHU is perceived to be lower compared to other institutions, which could further impact its ranking capabilities.

Conclusion

For the most accurate and up-to-date information, it is advised to check the official QS website or IIT BHU's announcements regarding their ranking status. The reasons behind IIT BHU's absence from the QS rankings are multifaceted, and it may take years for the institution to meet the necessary criteria.

It is important to note that while IIT BHU is not currently in the QS rankings, its growing research output and other initiatives show promising signs. The administration's decision not to participate may be for strategic reasons, and it is crucial to monitor the institution's progress over time.