State Institutional Ranking Framework gets green light in Tamil Nadu

In a move aimed at reshaping how higher education institutions are assessed, the Tamil Nadu government has granted in-principle approval for launching a State Institutional Ranking Framework (SIRF).

The new system will be implemented by the Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education (TANSCHE).

According to a government order issued on June 16, SIRF will focus on a broader set of metrics that go beyond conventional benchmarks like research output and publication counts.

It aims to highlight student learning outcomes, skill development, and professional readiness.

The government has sanctioned ₹75 lakh for the development and implementation of SIRF, with ₹10 lakh allocated to cover initial expenses such as forming an expert committee, conducting consultations, and building necessary software infrastructure.

The framework is designed to “encapsulate holistic development of students in terms of skill acquisition, competency development, and professional readiness,” while also evaluating institutions based on parameters like internships, alumni success, and employability rates.

In its first phase, TANSCHE will form an expert committee to finalize evaluation metrics through consultations with stakeholders from academia and industry.

These indicators will be tested in 20 institutions representing diverse disciplines. Feedback from this pilot phase will guide refinements before full-scale implementation.

The government noted that existing ranking systems such as the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) place excessive emphasis on publication volume, self-reported data, and research metrics, often lacking independent verification and broader stakeholder input.

SIRF aims to address these gaps by incorporating student feedback, employer insights, and alumni outcomes into the ranking process.

Data submitted by institutions will be verified, and the entire evaluation methodology will be publicly accessible.

“All submitted data will undergo verification, and TANSCHE will provide open access to its evaluation criteria,” the order said.

A digital platform will also be developed to manage data submission, analysis, visualization, and reporting.