India does not look for ranking of universities by global agencies: HRD Minister Smriti Irani

India does not look for ranking of its educational institutions by international agencies to attract "clients", says HRD Minister.

File photo of Union HRD Minister

New Delhi: India does not look for ranking of its educational institutions by international agencies to attract "clients", the Lok Sabha was informed on Monday.

HRD Minister Smriti Irani said the ranking of institutions by global agencies are based on research and infusion of foreign faculty.

She said while granting a rank, they do not take cognisance of research taking place in regional languages as also the inclusive nature of government institutions which ensure that those unable to avail education in private.

"We do not look for ranking to attract clients," she said adding that for the government, education is a non-profit sector.

Irani was responding to supplementaries in the lower house on issues relating to the HRD Ministry.

She said the fact that global agencies do not take cognisance of institutions carrying out research in regional languages does not mean that the research quality is in any way poor. Their criteria is research conducted in English language.

In her written response on higher education and research, she said the government has signed educational exchange programmes and MoUs and joint statements with 53 countries and multilateral organisations.

She said an MoU with Australia on cooperation in the fields of education, training and research was signed in August during the third Australia-India Education Council meeting.

The objective of the MoU includes increase in cooperation across all education sectors -- schools, vocational education and training and higher education including technical and professional education.

The minister explained that the outcome of the MoU in terms of students who would benefit "is not quantifiable at this juncture."