The Methodology of the Open-SMRS Best Colleges Ranking

INDIA HAS A VAST higher education system, compris­ing 1,113 universities, 43,796 colleges, and 11,296 standalone institutions. The estimated annual enrolment in these institu­tions is around 4.14 crore students. The six states with the highest stu­dent enrolments are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Rajasthan, together accounting for 53 per cent of the total student enrolment. This makes India’s higher education system one of the world’s largest.

A significant portion, 78 per cent, of the enrolments in India occurs at the undergraduate level. This high­lights the need for comprehensive rankings of undergraduate courses. Open Magazine, in collaboration with SMRS, a research and analytics com­pany, has released the 2023 rankings of 15 streams across colleges. These streams include Engineering, Medi­cal, Dental, Law, Pharmacy, BBA, BCA, Hotel Management, Fashion Design, Mass Communication, Architecture, BA, BSc, BCom, and BAMS (Ayurve­da). This year, Open’s ranking system has added Ayurveda to its bouquet of courses. Notably, the addition of BAMS to the ranking system reflects the evolving landscape and recognition of Ayurveda within the education sector.

BAMS, or the Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery, is a profes­sional degree programme focused on Ayurveda. After the establishment of the Ministry of AYUSH in India in 2014, Ayurveda has got a new lease of life. Evaluating BAMS colleges there­fore has become crucial.

This year, the Open-SMRS Best Col­leges survey has achieved a commend­able feat by ranking a total of 2,071 colleges across 15 different streams. This significant number of ranked colleges reflects the commitment to inclusivity and providing compre­hensive information to students and readers. It is worth noting that rank­ing such a large number of colleges in a single year is a remarkable accom­plishment, setting the Open-SMRS survey apart from other publications in terms of its extensive coverage and dedication to providing a wide-ranging perspective on college rankings.

The ranking process commenced with secondary research to compile a comprehensive list of colleges that had graduated at least two batches. After the list was prepared, a factual data survey form was created. Col­leges were invited to take part in the survey, and a dedicated team, overseen by senior researchers, was assigned to ensure timely participation and gather complete information from the colleg­es. This involved consistent commu­nication through regular emails and diligent follow-ups via telephone calls.

A separate perceptual survey was conducted among key stakeholders, including faculties, current students, and industry professionals. When se­lecting faculties and industry profes­sionals, their experience was given sig­nificant importance, with only those having more than five years of experi­ence in their respective fields selected for the survey. The survey included 2,102 respondents, comprising 958 fac­ulties, 826 students, and 318 industry professionals. The respondents were located across 24 major cities in India, ensuring a comprehensive represen­tation from various regions. The cities included in the survey were Ahmed­abad, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Coimbatore, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, Noida, Patna, Pune, and Raipur. By selecting these cities, the survey aimed to cover all zones of the country and provide an inclusive perspective.

The respondents were asked to nominate and rate the top colleges in India and within their respective zones based on five key parameters critical for assessing college excellence. These parameters included:

– Legacy, Accreditation & Selection Process
– Research & Academic Brilliance
– Infrastructure & Campus Facilities
– Personality Development & Co-curricular Activities
– Placement & Career Growth

In addition to the rating, qualitative discussions were conduct­ed with the respondents to identify the top colleges in their respective cities. It is important to note that responses from faculties and students about col­leges they were associated with were not considered when determining the final scores.

Despite significant efforts to gather factual data from colleges and ensure their maximum participation, the available numbers were not sufficient to create a robust ranking list. There­fore, in order to provide a realistic and more inclusive ranking, the colleges were analysed and ranked based on the perceptual survey data. The colleges that explicitly declined to be ranked were excluded from the final list. The survey was conducted between March and July 2023, allowing for a compre­hensive assessment of the colleges based on the perceptions and experi­ences of the respondents.

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