New Delhi, Mar 22 (UNI) Former President Pranab Mukherjee has said quality is a primary parameter of the education sector since independence but 'tough roads' are ahead.
Launching the QS I-GAUGE in India, which is QS Quacquarelli Symonds, a nationwide higher education rating system, Mr Mukherjee said last night,'the biggest challenge we are having is to enroll world’s biggest youth population into the colleges and channelise those forces into right direction. If we fail, there would be serious consequences.'
He said,'our higher educational institutes and their students should now emphasis on research based studies instead of looking for high earning jobs.'
'Such rating agency can help to improve higher education in India,' he added.
The launch was attended by Dr Virander S Chauhan, Chairman, National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), Ben Sowter, Director, QS Quacquarelli Symonds Ltd, UK, Ashwin Fernandes, CEO, QS – Era India Pvt Ltd and SV Ranganath, Chairman, QS I-GAUGE Advisory Board.

Mr Fernandes said, “We at QS are excited about this progressive project. QS I∙GAUGE is a system, which is designed in India, considering the international parameters and still localising the system to capture the diverse Indian higher education system. I am confident that this will give a much-needed hike to Indian colleges and universities, on an international footing”.
Mr Sowter introduced the concept of QS I-GAUGE, a brand incorporated in India as an independent private-sector initiative and specialising in rating colleges and universities.
He said, the system comprises seven primary indicators and five secondary indicators, ranging from teaching and learning, employability, social responsibility to research and innovation.
'The QS I-GAUGE rating will provide a unique 360-degree perspective of Indian Institutions for higher learning,' Mr Sowter said.
Mr Mukherjee and Dr Chauhan gave QS I-GAUGE Diamond Certificates to Banasthali Vidyapith University, Vellore Institute of Technology, O P Jindal Global University, Gold certificates to Gurunanak Institute of Technology, Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, M S Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Manav Rachna University and Silver certificates to MIT College of Engineering, Sri Devaraj Urs Academy of Higher Education & Research.

QS, based in the United Kingdom is a global higher education company known for publishing QS World University Rankings--the world’s most popular university ranking system.
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