Solan, December 6
Himachal Pradesh based Shoolini University, which has been ranked among the top private universities on research parameters by various ranking institutions, has now emerged as the leading private university in the QS World Universities Sustainability Rankings 2024.
The rankings reflect the commitment of institutions for a more sustainable existence and evaluate their social and environmental impact as centers of education and research.
While Shoolini University has attained the top position among all private universities in the northern region, it has been placed at Number four rank across the country in the category. Globally the university has been placed at rank 579 among all public and private universities.
The only private universities ahead of Shoolini University in the category are BITS, Pilani, VIT and Manipal Academy of Higher Education.
Shoolini University has also been ranked 400 globally for Environmental Impact and at 415th rank for Governance. In the category of Knowledge Exchange it has been placed at 280th rank worldwide and at 112th for Environmental Sustainability.
Chancellor Prof PK Khosla said the rankings have proved right the university founders’ vision to focus on research and sustainability. He said these would remain priority areas of the university and added that the university was bound to further improve its rankings in the years to come.
Pro Chancellor Mr Vishal Anand said “the university located in the lap of Himalayas has always strived to work for environmental protection and sustainability. It is a matter of great pride that our efforts are being recognized at the international level”.
Vice Chancellor Prof Atul Khosla said that the high ranking for the university “demonstrates our commitment to sustainability and protection of environment. The rankings shall propel us to strive for even better efforts and performance in the years to come”.
Surprisingly, there is no Indian university in the first top 200 ranks.
The University of Delhi has been featured as the most sustainable Indian University in the QS World University Rankings (position 220). After Delhi University, IIT Bombay has featured at 303 globally followed by IIT Madras at 344, IIT Kharagpur at 349, IIT Roorkee at 387 and IIT Delhi at 426. Among the private universities, Vellore Institute of Technology (449), BITS Pilani at 517. , Manipal Academy of Higher Education (576), Shoolini University (579) and SRM Institute (629) figures among toppers.
In the northern region Lovely University with 992 in sustainable development is second while again Shoolini with 961 is ranked first. Other universities from the region listed are Chitkara (1001), OP Jindal (1001) and Chandigarh University (1151-1200).
QS Senior Vice President Ben Sowter said “India, as one of the world’s largest emitters of carbon dioxide, faces a formidable challenge and shoulders immense responsibility for meeting its commitment to achieve net zero by 2070. In this context, the role of Indian universities is pivotal as they continue to expand in number and improve in quality”.
