Planning helps Mahatma Gandhi University leap up in NIRF ranking

KOCHI: The Mahatma Gandhi University has made a quantum leap from 124th rank last year to 52nd rank overall in the National Institutional Ranking Framework of MHRD this year outsmarting all other universities in the state on the matter of progress. In the university category, MGU has moved from 67th rank last year to 34th rank this year. The officials of the university and the Vice-Chancellor Dr Babu Sebastian attribute it to a slew of measures taken in the past two years.

“One of the most satisfying achievements was the declaration of examinations results on time. The under-graduate the results were declared in 29 days of the exam. The examinations could also be conducted as per the calendar,” said Dr Babu Sebastian. The university has also been able to reform the syllabus for UG and PG courses at the stipulated time as per the directions of the UGC. Moreover it could conduct foolproof Centralised Allotment Process for admission to both UG and PG while the single window for admission to the PG attracted national attention.

The university also conducted a unique adalat to redress the grievances of the students which included students who could not complete courses due to various reasons. This has been established as a permanent system. The varsity also started a system whereby the certificates including eligibility and equivalency certificates are issued online. The fee remittance also was made online. In another remarkable step the question papers at the PG exams were distributed online.

“We systematically filled all teacher vacancies. Using RUSA funds, modern research equipment were bought by the varsity which bolstered the academic and study centres. Smart classrooms also were established in the study centres. The placement cell established by the university came as a big help to the meritorious students to land jobs. To cap it all the university bagged A grade in NAAC re-accreditation with 3.24 CGPA,” said Dr Babu Sebastian.

In other measures, the university set up a solar plant spending Rs 3.5 crore and the campus was made eco-friendly. The university also bagged the Chancellor’s award for the best university in Kerala in 2015-16. The upgrade in the ranking is a double joy for Dr Babu Sebastian who led from the front as he is back on his seat on the strength of a Supreme Court order after suffering a setback at the hands of the High Court over his credentials.