Research and Markets: India's Best Colleges - 2009

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/25ce4d/indias_best_colle) has announced the addition of the "India's Best Colleges-2009" report to their offering.

As we unfurl the results of its 13th annual survey of academic excellence, those colleges and institutions that figure in the honours list will let out a cheer. Others may grumble about their placement in the ranks. And the hundreds of colleges surveyed which don't figure at all in the toppers' list may feel dismayed, even dispirited. They need not be. With over 17,000 colleges apart from 109 universities and another 300-odd deemed ones, the competition for the top slots in the country remains intense. But what the 13 years of evaluation of academic performance has shown is that those colleges which constantly innovate, remain contemporary, focus on hiring and retaining the best faculty and are willing to spend generously to improve facilities for students are the ones that regularly figure in the toppers' list

The formula for greatness is apparent. But for aspirants the key remains application. The results of the 2009 Nielsen Survey have shown why this is true. Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), Delhi, has the rare distinction of being numero uno in its stream ever since the surveys began and has retained the top slot among commerce colleges this year too.

Loyola College, Chennai, which straddles two major streams—arts and science—like a Colossus, works hard to retain its edge. It may be 84 years old and steeped in tradition but the reason why it is No. 1 is because it strives to remain contemporary and relevant.

The toppers of the two other streams—law and engineering—exhibit similar character traits. The National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore, which has regained its top slot, ensures that its faculty and students are constantly pushing the bar

Key Topics Covered:

• 1. Collection of list of colleges to be surveyed: A list of more than 1,500 colleges in the streams of arts, science, commerce, engineering, medicine and law was prepared using the existing list of colleges collated over a period of 13 years and through various secondary data sources like the Internet, published reports and the Association of Indian Universities Handbook.
• 2. Calculation of the parameter-wise ranks and the perceptual ranks at the city level: The respondents were first asked to rate the importance of each of the five parameters—reputation of colleges, quality of academic inputs, student care, infrastructure and job prospects.
• 3. Calculation of the parameter-wise ranks and the perceptual ranks at the national level: On the basis of step two, all colleges to be evaluated at the national level were tabulated.
• 4. Calculation of factual ranks: The perceptual scores at the national level formed the basis for colleges to be rated for factual ranking.
• 5. Calculation of the final rank: The maximum overall perceptual score was rescaled to 100 and the perceptual scores of all colleges were apportioned to this maximum score.
• 6. Arts: Loyola College, Chennai, with its emphasis on freedom of thought retains the top position. Lady Shri Ram College moves to second place followed by St. Stephenís.
• 7. Commerce: A sharp focus on academics and infrastructural development has helped Delhiís Shri Ram College of Commerce retain its number one spot yet again. A host of new colleges join the toppers.
• 8. Science: Loyola, Chennai and St. Stephenís, Delhi are still the best while 11 new colleges figure in the honours list
• 9. Law: NLSIU and NALSAR change places at the top only to prove their time-tested supremacy, while Amity Law School makes a comeback into the Top 10
• 10. Engineering: While IIT-Delhi remains the undisputed leader, BITS-Pilani emerges as the best privately run institute followed by VIT-Vellore. Five new institutions are among the winners.
• 11. Medicine: Emphasis on an internal culture of excellence and advanced medical technology has won AIIMS the top slot again this year, while there has been a major reshuffle in the middle ranks
• 12. Methodology

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