The Times Higher Education, London (UK) has announced global rankings for world’s top 200 universities and educational institutions for the year 2010- 2011. The THE has changed the parameters to decide world rankings from this year. There have been changes in the positions / rankings of various universities and institutes due to the changes in criteria of ranking. From Indian point of view, there are some deletions and new entrants into the list because of new system of rankings. The THE has taken teaching, research, citations, industry income – innovation and international mix as deciding factors in rankings. From India, Brand IITs, TIFR, IISc, Delhi University and Anna University have joined in the top 100 Asian Universities list. But there is no representation from India in the global rankings for 2011.

Well known universities have been ranked based on their reputation for teaching and research. Harvard University has been ranked as the top / number 1 university in the world for the 6th consecutive year. No Indian University has been placed in the global rankings of 200 world class universities. THE has considered following performance indicators for rankings:

1. Teaching: This includes the learning environment (Allocated 30 percent of the overall ranking score)
2. Research: Including volume, income and reputation (30 percent score)
3. Citations: Includes research influence (32.5 percent score)
4. Industry income: Including innovation (2.5 percent of the total score)
5. International mix: Includes staff and students (5 percent of the score).

Till 2009, the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT), Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) and the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) were figured in the global list of 200 universities. These have disappeared with the introduction of new ranking system. The THE has also published rankings region wise such as Europe, Asia, North America, South America, Oceania and Africa. The Indian Institutes of Technology (Roorkee, Kharagpur, Delhi, Kanpur and Bombay); Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Indian Institute of Science (IISC), University of Delhi (UD) and Anna University (AU) were figured in the top 100 Asian Universities / institutes. THE also publishes rankings in the subjects such as Engineering and Technology, Sciences, Clinical, Physical Sciences, Social Sciences and Arts and Humanities etc.

More details of these rankings and subject and region wise listings available on http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/

IIT Madras is one of the most active top rung academic institutions of the country. IIT-M has been on the innovation way in offering different courses. The reputed Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) – Madras is offering M.Tech. in Clinical Engineering for the year 2011-12. The course will be conducted in collaboration with Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) and Christian Medical College (CMC). Department of Biotechnology of IIT Madras shall take part in conducting the program. The classes, practical ans lab work will be jointly conducted by all the three institutes. Selection of candidates will be based on the performance in separate entrance test and interview. Following are details eligibility and application procedure:

Eligibility for M.Tech Clinical Engineering: Applicants should have B.E./ B.Tech.Or any other relevant and appropriate four year course. Subject should be included in the GATE subjects such as AE, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, IN, IT, ME, MN, MT, PI, TF, and XE. Life Sciences (XL) candidates are not eligible as BT (Biotechnology) paper is available separately.

Interested candidates can fill online application forms at http://www.biotech.iitm.ac.in/dr.gk/application.php . You should take a print out of application after filling it completely. Printed forms should be sent along with relevant copies of certificates and a DD for Rs. 200 (Rs. 100 for SC/ ST/PWD candidates) by speed post to ‘The Institute Coordinator, Joint Programmes with SCTIMST and CMC, Department of Biotechnology, BJMSB building, IIT Madras, Chennai- 600036’.

Last date for receipt of filled in application form is 7th April 2011.

Department of Biotechnology of IIT Madras also offering Ph.D. (Biomedical Devices and Technology). Eligibility for this program is M.E. / M. Tech. / M.S. (Engineering) / B.Tech. with the same eligibility conditions for IIT Madras Ph.D. Entrance Test / M.Sc. Physics. For other details, see http://www.biotech.iitm.ac.in/mcephd/?q=node/8.