BRICS university rankings project takes shape through India-Russia cooperation: Chakraborty
Moscow, June 9
India and Russia are jointly developing a university-level ranking system that could eventually be expanded across BRICS nations, according to Debjit Chakraborty, Director of the Chamber for Indo-Russo Technology Collaboration.
Speaking in an exclusive interview at the TV BRICS studio during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), Chakraborty said the initiative is being developed in collaboration with a leading Moscow-based university and will initially be tested between India and Russia before being opened to wider BRICS participation, as reported by TV BRICS.
The proposed ranking framework is part of broader efforts by the Indo-Russia Innopraktika Technology Hub and its partners to create common technological products and institutional mechanisms that can strengthen cooperation among BRICS countries.
Chakraborty said India and Russia are currently working together in several advanced technology sectors, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, health technology, educational technology and trusted digital infrastructure. Discussions are also underway on green energy projects, with some initiatives already making substantial progress.
According to him, the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to building indigenous technological capabilities and reducing dependence on external systems. He noted that solutions jointly developed by India and Russia could later be adopted by other BRICS members as well as countries across the Global South.
"Everything we are doing is intended to encompass the entire BRICS+ community, not just India and Russia," Chakraborty said, underlining the broader vision behind the initiative.
He added that projects such as the BRICS+ Tech Forum and sovereign technology partnerships have the potential to strengthen technological self-reliance among member countries and foster greater innovation-led cooperation.
The proposed university ranking system is expected to promote academic collaboration, research partnerships and knowledge exchange across BRICS institutions. Experts believe the initiative could eventually contribute to the creation of a common innovation and education ecosystem spanning BRICS nations and emerging economies in Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Sounds promising but I'm a bit skeptical. University rankings require transparent data collection and methodology. If BRICS can ensure that honestly, it'll benefit students choosing universities across India, Russia, China, etc. Otherwise it could become just another political tool. Hope they learn from mistakes of other ranking systems.
As an academic in the US, I'm watching this closely. The BRICS nations have some excellent universities but they're often undervalued in Western rankings. If this new system gains credibility, it could reshape global higher education dynamics. India and Russia have strong STEM traditions—this collaboration makes sense.
Honestly, I'm tired of rankings. Every university in India is obsessed with improving their rank instead of actually teaching well or doing research. But if BRICS ranking focuses on real-world impact, like how many students get jobs or solve local problems, then yes, it's a good move. Baaki dekhte hain.
Interesting development. I work in international education and many students from Africa and Asia choose European/American universities partly because of ranking prestige. A credible BRICS ranking could give alternative options. But the challenge will be getting employers worldwide to recognize it. Let's see how the pilot goes.
Finally! For too long, Indian and Russian universities have been judged by criteria that don't account for our context—like infrastructure costs or faculty-student ratios that are inherently different. If this ranking includes metrics like research output in local languages, community engagement, and affordability, it'll be a game-changer for students in smaller towns. 🇮🇳🤝🇷🇺
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