Kerala gets a higher education institution ranking framework

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Institutional Ranking Framework (KIRF) modelled on the National Institution Ranking Framework (NIRF) has come into being. Higher education minister R Bindu launched the framework, the first of its kind in the country, at a function held on Kerala University’s Kariavattom campus here on Wednesday.
The state-specific institutional ranking framework as mooted by the state higher education council aims at bringing a more democratic and secular approach while ranking the higher education institutions in the state. “The KIRF would emerge as the hallmark of excellence for higher education institutions in the state. The state-of-the-art ranking system would ensure that higher education institutions in the state are objectively assessed on the basis of their academic prowess,” the minister said, adding that the KIRF reflects the social justice, scientific temper and secular mindset followed by Kerala.
The ranking framework was launched by including it in the 100-day programme of the state government. Bindu said the ranking framework would give an invaluable impetus to the efforts put in by the state government to convert the Kerala society into a knowledge society.
The KIRF ranking, said the minister, would help the higher education institutions in the state to further improve their rank in the national and international raking framework in the institutional level. At the same time, based on the ranking, students who seek new generation and cutting-edge courses would be able to make informed decisions while choosing a college and programme.
The KIRF, said the higher education minister, follows the basic values and components followed by NIRF. It is broadly based on five components such as Teaching, Learning and Resources (TLR), Knowledge Dissemination and Research Excellence (KDRE), Graduation Outcome (GO), Outreach and Inclusivity (OI), Scientific Temper and Secular Outlook (STSO). Scientific Temper and Secular Outlook (STSO) is the additional criteria in KIRF.
Institutions being assessed are broadly categorised into 12 sections, including universities, colleges, engineering, management, architecture, medical, dental, pharmacy, nursing, law and teacher education. The ranking is carried out by the higher education council on the basis of the data provided by the respective institutions via a website –– kirf.kshec.org –– managed by the council.
The framework was developed by a committee headed by CSIR former director and CUSAT former director Gangan Prathapan.