Campus Protests and Faculty Shortages Blamed for SPPU's Declining NIRF Ranking
Minister of Higher and Technical Education, Chandrakant Patil, attributes the decline in Savitribai Phule Pune University's (SPPU) national rankings to frequent campus protests and faculty shortages. Experts, however, emphasize the critical role of teacher recruitment in improving the institution's performance.
SppuNirfCampus ProtestsFaculty ShortageHigher EducationReal Estate PuneSep 29, 2025
Speaking at SPPU's 126th convocation on Saturday, Patil said, 'Perception is among the 20 criteria for marking in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF). Frequent protests on campus will keep students away. The management must resolve its problems before the agitations escalate.'
While acknowledging a shortage of teachers due to policy and financial constraints, Patil stated that this alone could not explain the university's falling rank. 'Teacher recruitment will be resolved in a month, and so will matters related to the library and hostels. Corporate social responsibility may be used to strengthen certain facilities,' he added.
SPPU has faced criticism for a sharp drop in its NIRF ranking, which experts attribute largely to staff shortages. Over 60% of teaching positions at the university are currently vacant.
A senior educationist, requesting anonymity, said, 'Terming it as a perception problem is deflecting from the main issue — which is the recruitment of teachers. The process has been stalled for years, and rankings will continue to fall without an adequate number.'
A former vice-chancellor pointed out that perception accounts for only 10% in the NIRF's scoring matrix. 'The biggest chunk of weightage is given to teaching, learning, and resources (TLR) and research and professional practice (RPC) — each 30%. Even the other parameters are directly influenced by faculty. Students will be better educated and employable if you have good teachers. Additionally, students from other places will choose SPPU only if the quality of teaching is high. It will together better the perception,' he said, adding: 'Blaming it on perception and the management without addressing the core issue, which also includes excessive red tape, is wrong.'
The NIRF rankings are based on five main categories: TLR, RPC, graduation outcomes (GO), outreach and inclusivity (OI), and perception (PR). Most criteria are linked to the number and quality of faculty members, educationists said.
Another senior professor highlighted the impact of the faculty crunch on research. 'Last year, only 17 PhD students were admitted. Lack of good guides will lead to a dip in PhD scholars, preventing research. Additionally, many courses need to be revamped and new ones added. If there are only 40% teachers available, who will revise the syllabus and how will the university start new courses? SPPU also needs to change its functioning proactively, support teachers, and encourage innovation,' the professor said.
Meanwhile, the convocation saw 98,821 undergraduate and postgraduate students receiving degrees. Additionally, 54 students across faculties received 89 gold medals for academic excellence.
New NAAC evaluation method soon
National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) executive committee chairman Anil Sahasrabudhe said only 400 universities in India have undergone NAAC evaluation so far, leaving 82% out of the process. 'Therefore, NAAC evaluation will be simplified to bring all Indian colleges and universities under its umbrella. The new procedure will be announced in the next two to three months,' he told TOI.
He also spoke of upcoming centres of excellence focused on artificial intelligence in education. 'Applications for the same have been invited, and an announcement will be made soon,' he added.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main reason cited by the Minister for SPPU's decline in NIRF rankings?
The Minister of Higher and Technical Education, Chandrakant Patil, attributes the decline to frequent campus protests and urges the management to control such unrest.
How does the shortage of faculty members impact SPPU's NIRF ranking?
The shortage of faculty members affects the university's performance in teaching, learning, and research, which are critical components of the NIRF ranking criteria.
What percentage of teaching positions at SPPU are currently vacant?
Over 60% of teaching positions at SPPU are currently vacant.
What are the five main categories used in the NIRF rankings?
The five main categories used in the NIRF rankings are teaching, learning, and resources (TLR); research and professional practice (RPC); graduation outcomes (GO); outreach and inclusivity (OI); and perception (PR).
What new measures is the NAAC planning to implement for university evaluations?
The NAAC is planning to simplify its evaluation process to bring all Indian colleges and universities under its umbrella, with the new procedure to be announced in the next two to three months.
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