Indian higher learning institutes lagging behind in global ranking

​Kottayam: Expressing concern over Indian institutions of higher learning not getting their deserving place in global rankings, President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday asked students and teachers to strive hard and occupy their "rightful" place in the comity of nations.

"We shall have to find out our appropriate place in the realm of higher education and occupy our rightful place in the comity of nations," he said at the bicentenary celebrations of the CMS College in Kerala. He said education builds character and teaches how to accept and celebrate diversity and unity.

The President also asked the private sector to do their bit in enhancing capabilities of higher learning institutions in the country. "Since I have taken over as the President of the country, I have been repeating like a parrot that steps are required to be taken in this direction so that Indian institutions figure in the global arena," Mukherjee said.

He said the country has some of the best institutions like IITs, IIMs, NITs and many others in scientific research which can shine on the global ranking charts. Asserting that a "robust" education system is the need of the hour for India as it aspires to be one amongst the front-ranking nations in the world, the President said that the system has to be geared up in terms of both "quantity and quality" including private sector participation.

"The demands of higher education in our country can be met only if private sector participates with equal enthusiasm with the public sector institutions. Top international universities including Harvard, Yale and Stanford are the result of private sector initiatives," he said. He also asked the sector to create incubators in varsities that will help nurture grass-root level innovators.