The EducationWorld Higher Education Grand Jury Awards were introduced last year to acknowledge and recognise higher education institutions (HEIs) implementing global best practices. Juries comprising knowledgeable educationists were constituted to recommend conferment of these awards, especially upon low-profile and newly promoted private HEIs.

To select progressive higher education institutions across the country, we invited nominations from educationists, individuals and HEIs themselves supported by evidence of best practices in 12 categories — extraordinary leadership, campus design excellence, quality of campus life, contemporary IT-enabled learning, student diversity, sports and co-curricular education, promising future-ready universities, professional education, vocational and skills education and best academia-industry alliance.

Nominations were received from more than 700 private and government higher education institutions countrywide. To assess the evidence and rank nominated institutions in each category, this year’s Grand Jury comprising eminent educationists Deepak kumar Mukadam, Chancellor’s nominee on the management council of University of Mumbai and founder, Academistan, Dr. Hiren Ghelani, IT entrepreneur (Softwisdom Infoway) and board of study member, Rajkot University and Dr. A.S. Seetharamu, former professor of education at the Institute of Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bangalore was constituted.

The Top 10 EW Grand Jury Higher Education Rankings 2020-21 is published below

Extraordinary leadership

These rankings acknowledge extraordinary leaders of progressive higher education institutions.

1. Dr. Suhas Pednekar, vice chancellor, University of Mumbai
2. Dr. Rajendra Shinde, principal, St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Mumbai
3. Dr. Arjun Singh Rana, vice chancellor, Swarnim Gujarat Sports University, Gandhinagar
3. Dr. Sunil Rai, vice chancellor, UPES, Dehradun
4. Dr. Devanshu Patel, president, Parul University, Vadodara
5. Dr. Bijaya Kumar Sahoo, founder, Sai International College of Commerce, Bhubaneswar
6. Dr. Monojit Ray, principal, Barrackpore Rastraguru Surendranath College (West Bengal)
6. Prof. Samit Ray, chancellor, Adamas University, Kolkata
7. Prof. Dr. Kamal Ghanshala, president, Graphic Era Deemed-to-be University, Dehradun

Quality of campus life

Higher education institutions that provide excellent board and lodging facilities, health, wellness and other student welfare programmes are awarded in this category.

1. KCG College of Technology, Chennai
2. Hindusthan College of Arts & Science, Coimbatore
2. Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai
3. Apeejay Stya University, Sohna, Gurgaon
4. Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences (Deemed-to-be University), Coimbatore
5. Presidency University, Bangalore
6. KIIT University, Bhubaneswar
7. Don Bosco Group of Institutions, Bangalore
8. SRM Institute of Science & Technology, Ramapuram, Chennai
9. Nagarjuna College of Engineering & Technology, Bangalore
10. Morning Star Home Science College, Angamaly (Kerala)

Campus design excellence

Institutions with attractive and conducive campuses that enable students to learn joyfully and give of their best, are ranked in this category.

1. Amity University, Kolkata
2. FLAME University, Lavale, Pune
3. Jagran Lakecity University, Bhopal
4. Manipal University, Jaipur
5. AURO University, Surat
6. Apeejay Stya University, Gurgaon
7. SSN College of Engineering, Chennai
8. Jaypee University of Information Technology, Solan (HP)
9. Dr. DY Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune
10. Ascent Academy Group of Institutions, Guwahati

Student diversity

The Top 10 higher ed institutions promoting admission of students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds, cultures and nationalities are:

1. Vellore Institute of Technology
2. B.K. Birla College of Arts, Science & Commerce (Autonomous), Kalyan, Mumbai
3. Sharda University, Greater Noida
4. SRM Institute of Science & Technology, Chennai
5. Acharya Institutes of Technology (AIT), Bangalore
6. Chandigarh University, Mohali
7. Jain (Deemed-to-be) University, Bangalore
8. Noida International University
9. Vishwakarma University, Pune
10. ISBR Business School, Bangalore

Good management practices & systems

These Top 5 ranked HEIs have adopted best management and administrative practices and systems to boost staff and faculty productivity and enhance student learning outcomes:

1. Nagindas Khandwala College (Autonomous), Mumbai
2. Mithibai College, Mumbai
2. RA Podar College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai
3. SS Jain Subodh P.G. College, Jaipur
4. JSS College for Women, Mysore
5. Christ College, Thrissur

Promising future-ready universities

These are low-profile or newly promoted higher ed institutions that have demonstrated high potential to quickly
adopt and integrate 21st century education best practices:

1. Sanjay Ghodawat University, Kolhapur
2. Amity University, Gurgaon
3. GD Goenka University, Gurgaon
4. Bennett University, Greater Noida
5. Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University (PDPU), Gandhinagar
6. Rishihood University, Sonipat
7. Ahmedabad University, Navrangpura
8. The NorthCap University, Gurgaon
9. Atria University, Bangalore
10. Dr. C.V. Raman University, Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh)

Excellence in IT-enabled learning

Institutions which integrate cutting-edge technology into curriculum delivery and teaching-learning are awarded in this category:

1. Shoolini University, Kasauli Hills (HP)
2. Chitkara University, Rajpura (Punjab)
3. Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur (Andhra Pradesh)
4. Pearl Academy, Mumbai
5. Manav Rachna University, Faridabad
6. REVA University, Bangalore7. DIT University, Dehradun
8. BS Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai
9. NITTE (Deemed-to-be) University, Mangalore
10. NIET (Noida Institute of Engineering & Technology), Greater Noida

Sports & co-curricular education

Institutions which encourage and provide facilities and training for several sports and games and co-curricular activities, are felicitated in this category:

1. NASM Academy of Sports Management, Mumbai
2. Swarnim Gujarat Sports University, Gandhinagar
3. Holy Cross College (Autonomous), Nagercoil
4. Nazareth College of Arts And Science, Chennai
5. Kongu Arts and Science College (Autonomous), Erode
6. Jeppiaar Engineering College, Chennai
7. APS College of Engineering, Kanakapura Road, Bangalore
8. Apex University, Jaipur
9. Narayana Engineering College, Gudur (AP)
10. RV College of Engineering, Bangalore

New-age study programme leaders

Top 10 higher education institutions pioneering the introduction of contemporary industry-aligned study programmes:

1. Lifeness Science Institute, Mumbai
2. Shiv Nadar University, Greater Noida
3. IMS Unison University, Dehradun
4. MIT World Peace University, Pune
5. NIIT University, Neemrana, Rajasthan
6. Dayananda Sagar Institutions, Bangalore
7. Parul University, Vadodara
8. CMR Institute of Technology, Bangalore
9. Shobhit Deemed University, Meerut
10. Sandip University, Nashik

Professional education

Institutions providing globally benchmarked professional study programmes such as fashion design, mass communication, management, law, entrepreneurship, among others.

1. NAEMD Academy of Event Management & Development
1. NAFDI — School of Interior Design, Mumbai
2. Pearl Academy, Delhi
3. World University of Design, Sonipat
4. Whistling Woods International, Mumbai
5. Instituto Marangoni, Mumbai
6. CEPT University, Ahmedabad
7. International Institute of Sports Management, Mumbai
8. School of Architecture and Design — Apex Professional University, New Delhi
9. Arch College of Design & Business, Jaipur
10. JD Institute of Fashion Technology, Bangalore

Best academia-industry cooperation

Institutions spearheading alliances and collaborations to bridge the academia-industry gap and enhance graduate employability:

1. UPES (University of Petroleum and Energy Studies), Dehradun
2. KCG College of Technology, Chennai
3. Mahindra Ecole Centrale College of Engineering, Hyderabad
4. BIMTECH — Birla Institute of Management Technology, Greater Noida
5. IFIM Institutions, Bangalore
6. BS Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science & Technology, Chennai
7. JK Business School, Gurgaon
8. Sreenidhi Institute of Science and Technology, Hyderabad
9. Rungta College of Engineering & Technology, Bhilai
10. AIMS Institutes, Bangalore

Vocational & skills education

These institutions provide well-designed vocational and skills based courses and programmes:

1. LivGlobal Institute of Travel & Tourism, Mumbai
1. NAMG Academy of Modelling & Grooming, Mumbai
2. Hans Raj Mahila Maha Vidyalaya, Jalandhar
3. Bhartiya Skill Development University, Jaipur
4. MES College, Marampally (Kerala)
5. Arena Animation, Mumbai
6. BSE Institute Ltd, Mumbai
7. Ramesh Sippy Academy of Cinema and Entertainment, Mumbai
8. Indian Institute of Gems and Jewellery (IIGJ), Mumbai
9. Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematics (MAAC), Bangalore
10. Frankfinn Institute of Air Hostess Training