Results of Entrance exams of almost all engineering colleges have been declared. As if parents and students are all haunted by one question which is the best college? All their discussions revolve around the grading and ranking, these colleges possess. Two common questions which pop up from this puzzle are:

(1) How is it that top three colleges in one ranking slide down below ten in another?
(2) How is it possible for three private colleges to be at number one simultaneously? (ranking private colleges) Ranking game is good for advertisement but is really creating havoc and confusion for readers.

It is a well-known fact that the methods used by these rating agencies to evaluate universities and colleges are different. Each has a unique rating system and because of this a college ranking first in one rating system may fall much behind in other systems.Rankings do matter a lot and can change the perception and decision of a student. It will be good if colleges publish the criteria and methodology used for their ratings. Is it not possible for rating agencies to rate them according to the impact they have on their students (academically and personality
wise)? Can criteria be clearly mentioned, which give an edge to a particular college over others? It’s important to know which ranking practices are prevailing in India.

In practice following three types of rankings are popular in our country: (1) Government rankings: Every few years central government conducts a survey which is highly credible but of little use to general public because they are usually done for funding of the colleges and are not easily available to common public. (2) Academic rankings: These are also as authentic as government rankings but are usually done to retain and attract the best faculty.(3) Popular rankings : known as magazine rankings also, are carried by national magazines and have a big impact on students in their decision making People rely a lot on rankings done by
(1) Outlook India
(2) India Today
(3) Data Quest
(4) Competition Success Review.

It’s important to know that these ratings are done on a few parameters.Data Quest usually gives overall rankings to the colleges. And rates on
(1) placement
(2) intellectual capital
(3) infrastructure
(4) industry interface
(5) the perception factor related to faculty,quality etc.

Survey done by India Today magazine takes into account
(1) Research
(2) Infrastructure
(3) Placement Statistics
(4) Perception among Academicians
(5) Pedagogic system (Instructional Methods)
Each parameter is also given different weightage so it is necessary to know what % it contributes to grand total.The rating methodology and the criteria used must comply with the following basic characteristics:
(1) Objectivity
(2) Authenticity
(3) Transparency
(4) Balanced
(in terms of the correct weights, etc.)
No doubt surveys are authentic because a well structured questionnaire is sent to the colleges.
A common person, who has no first hand knowledge of these colleges and particularly if college is in another state, is in complete flux and confusion so they have no option but to rely solely on these ratings. In USA, Princeton Review does rating on 30 factors in three areas.
(1) Academics
(2) Costs and
(3) Financial aids.
This rating gives importance to professors’accessibility and student faculty ratio. In USA,only PAY SCALE.COM rate them on salary potential i.e. what package the student would get after graduating from there. In India, few academicians insist that ranking should be done on the basis of ISO CERTIFICATION. It should be done for ea-ch stream (each department be it computer, mechanical, each should be independently certified).

ISO certification for Laboratories and Libraries should also be given importance.Others believe accreditation is more important be it of institute itself or courses offered there.Whether accredited by AICTE, NBA or NAAC grades. Words of caution. Some colleges do not participate and respond to these ratings so their names would not be included in the list. It is responsibility of the media also to see that rating is not a callous reporting but a concrete calculation.In these times of skyrocketing fee structures and recession, it is extremely important for students to know that every rupee spent on their education matters Should we not try to find colleges which give the best value?

Students should not flow with the wrong notion that only expensive colleges provide the best education, it is possible for colleges to provide high quality academics at a reasonable price by adopting cost cutting measures. It is responsibility of students to see what suits them by seeing availability of courses of their choice, location and fee structure and so on. Points which students should keep in mind before selecting a college (1) Identify which institute would help them to bring a radical change in their attitude. (2) Will it give them the competitive edge and strengthen their engineering skills? (3) Will they be able to grab exceptional opportunities? (4) Is the institution able to expose them to transformative technologies? (5) Will they get the advantage of sharing the knowledge with other universities in the world?
(6) Will their institution help them to build new capabilities and make them more innovative?
NO doubt to reach success, your college is your road map.

It is a well-known fact that the future of work is no longer in the future. So the Institution has to be in alignment to megatrends followed across the world. It has to cope up with a confluence of forces which are pushing the colleges to change their working style. So just don’t depend heavily on ratings assess it systematically if it is a place where your brilliance can flourish pursue it.