A thrust on enhancing research facilities and evolving innovative pedagogical techniques proved instrumental in the progress registered by the University of Kerala in the rankings prepared by the Ministry of Human Resource Development under the National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF).
The university, which was ranked as the 35th best higher education institution in the country and also ranked 22nd (it was at the 30th place last year) among universities, attributed its achievement to projects that ensured a significant improvement in the ‘teaching, learning and resources’ parameter, in which it scored 74.80 (out of 100), an increase from its score of 65.16 in the 2018 rankings.
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The major projects that were undertaken during the period of assessment included improving laboratory facilities, particularly in the Sophisticated Instrumentation and Computation Centre on the varsity’s Karyavattom campus. The funds spent for procuring new equipment for laboratories almost tripled from ₹4.49 crore (in 2016-17) to ₹11.34 crore (in 2017-18).
The gradual adoption of modern teaching methods over the last few years also placed the university in good stead. It had created Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) platform, enabling several learners to access its courses from far and wide.
Besides, the UGC–Human Resource Development Centre that functioned in the university was recently accorded recognition as a National Resource Centre for online refresher courses for teachers in Commerce. Ramping up its outreach efforts, the Kerala University had taken up various rural improvement projects including adopting villages and propagating scientific knowledge at the grassroots level. The improvement of students services and sports infrastructure were also taken into account for the rankings, sources said.
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Vice-Chancellor V.P. Mahadevan Pillai said the achievement was a pointer to the improved academic atmosphere in the university. Pointing out that the university progressed despite being constrained by faculty shortage and other limitations, International Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) director Gabriel Simon Thattil said the unit had been working on means to improve quality in teaching, learning and research.