Barely any Indian universities in rankings 20 years ago, but 2025 will have an unprecedented 107 ranked Indian varsities: Phil Baty

New Delhi [India], August 6 (ANI): Chief Global Affairs Officer at Times Higher Education Phil Baty said on Tuesday that since the introduction of the World University ranking in 2004, the last 20 years were exciting for him, watching India develop and showing extraordinary growth in participation.

Speaking to ANI, Baty said, “I invented the World University ranking in 2004… We have the most comprehensive, most balanced ranking system in the world for global research universities… What’s been exciting for me over the 20 years–the world ranking is watching India develop. We’ve seen an extraordinary growth in participation from India. When I first came to India 15 years ago, there was a sense that India didn’t want to be on the world stage and didn’t want to worry about global rankings and global metrics. They had national issues to deal with. But since PM Modi has come in and had a very clear vision for higher education and education in general, has wanted to see Indian universities on the world stage, and has wanted to dramatically improve the universities in India, we’ve seen that engagement with rankings.”

He further stated that 20 years ago, Indian universities were barely involved in the rankings at all; however, in the next ranking, India will have an unprecedented 107 universities, which matches the United Kingdom and is the third best-represented in the world.

“20 years ago, there were barely any Indian universities involved in the rankings at all. In the next ranking, in the October 2025 edition of the World Rankings, we’ll have an unprecedented 107 ranked Indian universities. That matches the United Kingdom. It’s the third best-represented in the world,” he said.

Speaking on the growth of the Indian education system, Baty said, “The rankings we are seeing in the last decade are what I call a global levelling up… You had absolute dominance of American and British universities and some Western European universities. Over the last decade, we’ve seen a rebalancing from the west to the east… We’ve seen India starting to make more impact… The balance of power is not completely in the favour of the West anymore. Asian universities are starting to rise… Now, we have a moment where India is beginning to realise its potential to be one of the world centres of education.”

“The most extraordinary thing that PM Modi has managed to drive forward is balancing a great expansion of participation whilst also protecting quality… Educating more and more people but not compromising on quality… We’re seeing a real shift towards universities delivering more social and economic impact and focussing on India’s economic needs. The next big step is internationalisation. Indian universities are rising on the global stage; they’re more visible and competitive,” he further added.

Baty also emphasised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s clear vision and commitment to change, stating, “The exciting thing about PM Modi’s vision is the scale of the ambition and the absolute commitment to change. It is a huge challenge. India is the world’s largest democracy and economy with huge challenges. Being so ambitious, clear and focused has been exciting. Being disruptive, willing to challenge the orthodoxies… For me, it is about breaking down the barrier to international collaboration, sharing, student mobility and attracting and retaining talent in India… The Indian diaspora is leading some of the world’s greatest tech corporations.”