The University of the Punjab, Lahore, clinched third position in the overall rankings announced by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) on Monday.
According to the HEC, Islamabad’s Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU) bagged the first position, followed by University of agriculture, Faisalabad, and University of the Punjab second and third respectively.
Making the announcement in the capital, HEC Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed said, “University Rankings is a global practice followed to achieve international as well as national competitiveness in education, research and innovation. For students and parents they help provide guidelines in selection of universities according to their select disciplines.”
Ranking criteria for 2014 has been modified and improved in the light of previous practice and feedback received from stakeholders. Criteria parametres considered in the comprehensive process include quality assurance, teaching quality, research, finance and facilities, social integration/community development. Total marks of 100 have been assigned as 15 to quality assurance, 30 to teaching quality, 41 to research, 10 to finance and facilities and 4 to social integration/community development.
University of the Punjab earned 93 marks lagging behind just two other universities as QAU scored 100 and agriculture university 98. Another institution of the city, National College of Arts (NCA) stood first in the arts category.
The first HEC ranking was announced in 2006, second in 2012, followed by the third in 2013. The latest and amended criteria was used to stand with the global practice, according to the HEC.