Lack of diversity affecting MSU’s ranking, says VC

Vadodara: M S University is seriously lacking behind when it comes to diversity of students. According to latest figures available with the university, of the total 37,543 students enrolled with different faculties of the university, just 53 students are from outside the country.
Not just foreign students, even in terms of students from outside Gujarat, the university scores poorly. Of the total students enrolled across the campus, just 2,617 students are from outside the state.

Lack of diversity in its students population is said to be one of the main reasons why MSU has failed to make its mark in the overall ranking of the universities of the country done by the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD).

MSU vice-chancellor professor Parimal Vyas admitted that lack of diversity is one of the major reason behind university’s poor performance in national level ranking.

“We can improve our ranking if at least 50% students at post-graduate level are admitted from outside the state thereby increasing diversity in the campus,” said Vyas.

Last year, a university appointed committee had also pointed out that most of the institutes in top 100 on an average have around 15 to 20% students from out of state and outside country.

The committee had recommended in its report that MSU should rethink its admission policy which presently is skewed heavily towards providing admission to local students.

“To attract students from outside the country, we should offer relevant courses especially in our areas of strength. Foreign students hostel and other student centric infrastructure is also required,” the report had stated.