NIRF 2020 shocker: Madras University and Anna University slide down NIRF rankings list. Here's why

Two major universities in Tamil Nadu - Madras University and Anna University have both taken a hit in the National Institutional Ranking Framework 2020. While Madras University was placed 33 last year, it slumped to the 41st position this year in the Overall Ranking while Anna University, despite its newly acquired ‘Institute of Eminence’ tag slipped from the 14th rank to the 20th. In the University category too, Anna University plunged from the seventh position to the 12th, much to everyone’s surprise. 

In the University category, Madras University only slipped two positions from 20 to 22. The NIRF selection is based on five parameters for the Overall and University categories - Teaching, Learning & Resources (TLR), Research and Professional Practice (RP), Graduation Outcomes (GO), Outreach and Inclusivity (OI) and Peer Perception - Employers and Academic Peer. 

With regard to Madras University, the campus seems to have scored pretty much the same both last year - just a point less in a couple of categories, except the Peer Perception category. For this Peer Perception category, the committee conducts a survey with a large category of employers, professionals from reputed organizations and a large category of academics to ascertain their preference for graduates of different institutions. In this category Madras University scored 10 points less than it did last year - from 30.01, this year the University managed only a 20.43.

In the University category, the campus scored less in the very same category. Even though the fall here isn't as stark as in the overall category- the University scored eight points less this year in the Peer Perception category. In the other categories, it either scored the same as last year or a point lower. 

Anna University which found itself in the 20 position in the Overall Category this year feel a few points in four out of the five categories - while it scored pretty much the same in the Teaching, Learning & Resources categories, but in the Research and Professional Practice category they scored six points less, and in the Peer Perception category they scored three points less. 

In the University ranking, Anna slipped from 7 to 12 and they lost out on marks in the same categories - scored less in  Research and Professional Practice category and the Peer Perception. The Anna University performance comes especially as a surprise as the campus was given the for the Institute of Eminence tag and was gearing up for major changes on campus and better performance.