What does NIRF look at?

The National Institutional Ranking Framework, or NIRF outlines a methodology to rank institutions across the country, including institutes like IITs and NITs. According to the NIRF 2022 report, IITs across the country occupy 7 top spots out of 10. NIRF rankings are relevant input towards gauging the quality of the IITs along multiple dimensions such as academic excellence, assessment of faculty, qualitative overview of resources, research outputs, industry collaborations, opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship, student life and campus culture. 

There are 5 broad parameters, further divided into specific sub-parameters that NIRF uses to, each of which has a maximum score of 100 and separate weightage:

• Teaching, Learning and Resources (TLR)

•  Research and Professional Practice (RP) 

• Graduation Outcomes (GO)

• Outreach and Inclusivity (OI) 

• Perception (PR)

These scores are then normalised to provide an overall score out of 100.TLR is a basic parameter that deals with the activities related to various dimensions of teaching and learning. It deals with the teaching and learning resources available to the institute and how they are utilised. Sub-parameters such as student strength and faculty-student ratio contributing to TLR help in gauging the individual attention each student receives, and the human resource that comprise the output of the institute—in terms of excellence and research. The quality of faculty is also assessed by taking into account qualifications like PhDs and teaching experience. A major factor assessed is the expenditure on and improvement in quality of available resources, like libraries, laboratories, equipment, access to relevant conferences, workshops and infrastructure maintenance.

RP measures the quality of research being carried out, and the scholarships and aid provided to students. Sub-parameters focus on the number of academic publications, and their quality through citation counts and normalised citation indexes, through data obtained from Web of Science, Scopus, etc. Additionally, other sub-parameters look at the number of patents filed and published and earnings made out of them. The footprint of projects, professional practice and executive development is gauged by average research funding earned at the institute level over the past three years, average consultancy funding earnings at institute level over the past three years and average annual earnings from Full Time Executive Development Programs. These factors point towards professional and growth opportunities available to students, mainly through the institute.

Graduation Outcomes is centered on the percentage of graduates in UG, PG and PhD programs, the fraction of students passing out in the stipulated time, placements via institute, their median salaries, number of admissions in top institutes for higher education and numbers of sustained entrepreneurial ventures.

OI looks at representation of women, marginalised communities and minorities in the institution by looking at percentages of female students, female faculties in top administrative posts and research, economically and socially challenged students. It looks at facilities for the physically challenged and scores well if all facilities such as lifts, ramps, accessible restrooms and transport are available and accessible. It ensures regional diversity by taking into account numbers of students from other domestic and international locations.

Perception of the institute is calculated based on a qualitative analysis/survey of funding agencies, organizations, private sector employers, research investors, etc. for an industrial perception. Academic peers’ perception and competitiveness is gauged by surveys and data. The public perception and trust is based on qualitative surveys among parents and the general public opinion.

The rankings and scores of the top 7 IITs are as follows: