The QS World Rankings have expanded significantly, encompassing 1,397 institutions from 95 countries and territories. This number represents a noteworthy increase, more than doubling the count from the previous year’s pilot edition. Unfortunately, none of the higher education institutions in India secured a position within the top 200 in the global rankings.
This growth in the scope of the rankings reflects a broader international participation, with a diverse range of educational institutions contributing to the evaluation. The increase in featured entities suggests a heightened global interest and commitment to sustainability in higher education. Despite this positive trend, the absence of Indian universities in the top 200 underscores the need for a more concerted effort to enhance sustainability practices within the country’s higher education landscape.
Delhi University has garnered recognition as a leading sustainable institution in India, securing the 220th position globally in the recently released QS World Rankings. The announcement, made on Tuesday, revealed that although no Indian higher education institutions made it to the top 200 in the global rankings, DU stood out with its notable 220th position.
Following closely behind DU, the IIT-Bombay secured the 303rd spot on the sustainability scale. Other IITs also made their mark, with IIT-Madras securing the 344th position, IIT-Roorkee at 387th, and IIT-Delhi ranked 426th globally. This recognition highlights the commitment of these institutions to sustainable practices, contributing to the broader global discourse on environmentally responsible and socially conscious education.
The University of Toronto in Canada claims the leading position in global rankings, with the University of California, Berkeley securing the second spot in the United States, followed by the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom in third place.
These global rankings assess universities worldwide by considering their contributions to social impact, environmental initiatives, and governance. The evaluation focuses on how these institutions actively address and confront some of the most urgent global challenges.
The QS World Rankings encompass a broad spectrum, showcasing 1,397 institutions spanning 95 countries and territories. This marks a significant increase, more than doubling the number featured compared to the inaugural edition last year.
The United States takes the lead as the most prominently represented country or territory, boasting 209 ranked universities. Notably, one American institution secured a position in the world’s top 10 for sustainability.
Following closely, the United Kingdom emerges as the second-most featured nation, with 93 universities in the rankings, including two within the global top 10. Meanwhile, China holds the third spot in representation, with a total of 90 ranked universities. However, it’s noteworthy that none of the Chinese universities managed to secure a place among the top 100 in the sustainability rankings.
This comprehensive assessment by QS provides valuable insight into the global landscape of sustainability-focused higher education, shedding light on the notable contributions and standings of universities across diverse regions.
According to the QS World University Rankings, none of the 56 Indian universities listed managed to secure a spot in the global top 100. The highest-ranking Indian university is Delhi University, positioned at 220th globally and 30th in Asia. Notably, DU excelled in environmental sustainability, earning recognition for its “excellent commitment to, and implementation of, environmental and climate strategies.” The university secured the 16th spot in the rankings’ environmental education indicator.
Performance of Other Universities
The report acknowledged DU for providing world-class education in environmental and climate-related subjects. However, it also pointed out areas for improvement, particularly in subjects related to positive social impact. Remarkably, DU outperformed its Asian counterparts in environmental education, trailing only behind The University of Tokyo in this metric. Unfortunately, the subsequent highest-ranked university in Asia fell outside the top 100, indicating a significant drop-off in performance.
In addition to DU and the IITs, four other universities have achieved top scores in the category of environmental sustainability, with the Vellore Institute of Technology leading the pack at the 49th position, marking it as the 10th highest in Asia. Following closely are DU at 66th, IIT-Madras at 70th, and Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) at 81st in this particular category.
According to the QS World rankings report, it highlights that despite India’s proficiency in environmental education, the nation encounters challenges in the realm of environmental research. Domestically, the IITs emerge as frontrunners in this aspect, with IIT-Delhi securing the highest rank at 236th.
This observation underscores the importance of further emphasis on environmental research within India, even as certain institutions excel in providing education focused on sustainability.
| Parameter | Previous Weightage | Revised Weightage |
| Academic Reputation | 40% | 30% |
| Faculty-Student Ratio | 15% | 10% |
| Employer Reputation | 10% | 15% |
| Sustainability | – | 5% |
| Employment Outcomes | – | 5% |
| International Research Network | – | 5% |
Some Criteria under QS World Rankings
The report emphasises that IIT-Delhi stands out in Sustainable Cities and Communities research. Additionally, it suggests that India should enhance factors associated with the QS ‘Good Governance’ indicator, including ethics, hiring practices, transparency, and decision-making. Notably, Manipal Academy of Higher Education and DU rank 111th and 167th, respectively, in this metric, representing two Indian universities in the top 200 globally.
Indian universities encounter challenges in the QS ‘Equality Indicator,’ which evaluates staff, faculty, and student diversity, inclusivity, and support. Manipal Academy of Higher Education leads nationally, securing the 463rd position and standing as the sole Indian institution within the global top 500 in this category.
In terms of Knowledge Exchange, DU achieves India’s highest rank, securing 93rd place in QS’s measure of collaboration, resource sharing, and community engagement. It stands as the only Indian university in the top 100 in this indicator.
The report notes that there is room for improvement in the ‘Impact of Education’ category, which assesses academic prowess and educational quality in subjects with potential for positive social impact, such as politics, law, and education. IIT-Kharagpur, the highest-ranked university in this area, is placed 646th globally.
In the realm of ‘Health and Wellbeing,’ where an assessment of pertinent research and the quality of life for both students and staff is conducted, IIT-Bombay stands out by securing the top position globally, ranking 430th.
As one of the biggest contributors to global carbon dioxide emissions, Ben Sowter, Senior Vice President of QS, expressed the significance of this accomplishment and noted that India faces a significant challenge in fulfilling its commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070.
In light of this, Sowter emphasised the critical role Indian universities play. These universities are essential to India’s larger commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility as they grow in number and raise the bar on academic standards.
