VC, students cheer as HCU ranked 4th best in India

Even as the Hyderabad Central University has been witnessing sporadic protests over the suicide of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula, HCU Vice-Chancellor Prof Appa Rao Podile and students today cheered the institution being ranked among the best in the country.
Podile credited the HCU faculty, students and non-teaching staff for the university being ranked at number four among all institutions in the country.
"We are humbled by this achievement and the university will put in more efforts to ensure that it is recognised worldwide for its quality of teaching and research. Our alumni have played a vital role in the growth of the university and it's our responsibility to produce quality students who will be model citizens for India," Podile said.

HCU students' union president Zuhail K P said, "It's wonderful. We are happy about it."
The ranking, he said, has proved that the agitation has not "destroyed" academic atmosphere on the campus. "We are continuing our legacy (academic excellence)," Zuhail said.
The University of Hyderabad, popularly known as HCU, has been ranked among the best universities of the country in the first government-backed survey using parameters ranging from research facilities, academic excellence to the placements of graduates.

As per the rankings, released by HRD Minister Smriti Irani in Delhi, the HCU is ranked fourth among all institutions in the country.

More than 230 universities were surveyed for the rankings, while the criteria used to rank the institutions included teaching, learning and resources, research, professional practice and collaborative performance, graduation outcomes, outreach and perception.
An independent agency, the National Bureau of Accreditation, validated the data submitted by the institutes.
The new ranking framework has been drafted to provide an Indian context to educational aspirations and needs. This will help institutions that conduct research in languages other than English and are focused on inclusive education, two factors that are overlooked by international agencies.
The university has been on the boil since Vemula committed suicide on the campus on January 17, subsequent to which VC Podile went on a leave amid protest by students.

Upon his return from two-month leave on March 22, the VC was met with protests on the campus, even as classes remained suspended for a few days in the University amid a clampdown on entry of outsiders.