The National Institution Ranking Framework (NIRF) has been the inspiration for the creation of the Kerala Institutional Ranking Framework (KIRF). The framework, the first of its type in the nation, was introduced by higher education minister R Bindu on Wednesday at a ceremony held on the Kariavattom campus of Kerala University.
The state higher education council has proposed a state-specific institutional ranking scheme that intends to offer a more democratic and secular approach when assessing the higher education institutions in the state. “The KIRF would become the state’s standard of excellence for schools of higher learning. The state’s higher education institutions would be objectively evaluated on the basis of their academic prowess according to the cutting-edge ranking system, the minister said, adding that the KIRF reflects the social justice, scientific temper and secular mindset followed by Kerala.
By integrating the ranking structure in the state government’s 100-day plan, it was made public. According to Bindu, the ranking mechanism would significantly boost the state government’s attempts to transform Kerala society into a knowledge society.
The minister claimed that the KIRF rating would aid the state’s higher education institutions in raising their institutional position in the national and worldwide rankings frameworks. While choosing a college and programme, students looking for modern, cutting-edge courses will be able to do so with knowledge thanks to the ranking.
The higher education minister claimed that the KIRF adheres to the same fundamental principles and tenets as the NIRF. Teaching, Learning, and Resources (TLR), Knowledge Dissemination and Research Excellence (KDRE), Graduation Outcome (GO), Outreach and Inclusivity (OI), Scientific Temper and Secular Outlook (STSO), are the five main pillars on which it is based. The KIRF’s extra characteristics include scientific temperament and a secular outlook (STSO).
The 12 areas that make up the general classification of the institutions being evaluated are universities, colleges, engineering, management, architecture, health care, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, law, and teacher preparation. The higher education council conducts the ranking based on information submitted by the relevant institutions through a website — kirf.kshec.org — that is under the council’s management.
A group led by Gangan Prathapan, a former director of both CUSAT and the CSIR, created the framework.
