NIRF Ranking 2023: Kerala colleges lose out on perception parameter 

The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2023 has brought to light how big the problem of the exodus of students from the state to foreign countries for higher education is. It could be seen that the colleges in the state have scored poorly in perception parameters, stated a report in The New Indian Express.

According to VS Joy, Principal of Maharaja's College, the college has done well compared to last year. "The college bettered its ranking by going 14 steps up the ladder from 60 in 2022 to 46 this year," he added. However, the ranking would have been even better if we had done good in the perception parameter, said Joy. The college managed to get only 18.40 out of 100 in the perception parameter.

The same sentiment was shared by Alphonsa Vijaya, Principal of St Teresa's College. "We scored badly in the perception parameter. It was a dismal 4.53," she said. The college's ranking fell 4 points to 41 from 37 in 2022.

The principal said, "This has been the case with all the higher education institutions in the state. The main reason is the exodus of the students to institutions abroad and the general perception created by this is that there is something wrong with the colleges in the state. Which is not the case!"

How can colleges increase visibility?
Taking a serious note of the issue the colleges have decided to take the bull by the horn and implement measures to increase visibility. "We were told that our student community was not diverse and don't have a favourable presence in the general public. We have decided to rectify that. We have decided to start programmes that will see the public get details of the academic and non-academic activities we are conducting in the college," said Joy. St Teresa's has decided to beat their drums to increase visibility and hence the perception score.

"It was not our culture to blow our own horn. However, we will change that," she added.

As for the Union Christian College at Aluva which bettered its ranking by 20 points to rank 77 in 2023 from 97 in 2022, the institution is banking on the euphoria it generated among the public during its 100th anniversary celebrations.

"The details were not considered for the 2023 ranking. But it will be in the next and we will see our rank jump up. But more needs to be done and I believe that the teachers will work towards that goal," said Rev Thomas John, Manager, Union Christian College.

Rajagiri College of Social Sciences and Sacred Heart College Thevara too saw their ranks dropping. While Rajagiri fell three spots from 27 in 2022 to 30 in 2023, Sacred Heart College saw a massive fall from 59 in 2022 to 72 in 2023.

NIRF ranking

College: 2022 | 2023

Rajagiri College of Social Sciences: 27 | 30

St Teresa's College: 37 | 41

Maharaja's College: 60 | 46

Sacred Heart College: 59 | 72

UC College, Aluva: 97 | 77