VIKAS SHARMA
JAMMU, SEPT 5: The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025 has once again exposed the stark imbalance in higher education performance between Jammu and Kashmir’s two regions, with institutes from Jammu division continuing to lag far behind their counterparts in Kashmir as well as other parts of the country.
While the University of Kashmir (KU) surged to 59th position in the Overall category and 34th among universities, the University of Jammu (JU) stagnated at 87th in Overall and slipped to 51st in the University category. The region’s other major institutions, including Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), Government colleges, and SKUAST-Jammu, too failed to make a strong mark, with none of Jammu’s colleges featuring in the top 300 nationally.
In contrast, SKUAST-Kashmir secured 94th position Overall and 75th in the University category, while IIT Jammu, IIM Jammu, and NIT Srinagar registered visible national presence in their respective fields.
Where Jammu Division Lags
Experts point to three primary areas where Jammu’s higher education ecosystem struggles:
Research and innovation deficit:
Unlike KU and SKUAST-Kashmir, JU and other Jammu-based universities have a weaker record in funded research, publications in high-impact journals, and patents. Experts observe that the research culture in Jammu’s institutions remains underdeveloped, with faculty often burdened by administrative duties rather than encouraged to pursue academic innovation.
Faculty shortage and development gaps:
Vacant posts, contractual appointments, and limited exposure to national and international academic platforms further weaken Jammu’s performance. According to higher education experts, when faculty are not trained in emerging trends or fail to engage in global networks, the quality of teaching and research suffers, directly impacting rankings.
Weak industry linkages and graduate outcomes:
Institutions in Jammu have not forged strong collaborations with industry, resulting in poor placement statistics compared to top institutes across the country. Experts note that graduation outcomes—placements, entrepreneurship, and higher studies—carry huge weight in NIRF, and unless local universities build strong ties with industries and skill development platforms, students will continue to struggle.
What needs to be done
To improve, experts suggest a multi-pronged approach:
Boost research funding: Universities must aggressively pursue central government and private grants to strengthen labs, projects, and innovation ecosystems.
Faculty empowerment: Filling vacant posts, providing training in pedagogy and research, and reducing administrative burden are essential steps.
Industry-Academia collaboration: Setting up incubation centres, career guidance cells, and MoUs with industries can improve student employability.
Focus on Colleges: The absence of Jammu-based colleges in the top 300 is alarming. Strengthening faculty recruitment, modern curricula, and research opportunities at undergraduate level is critical.
Global Exposure: Exchange programmes, conferences, and international tie-ups can help local institutions meet national benchmarks.
“The latest NIRF results underline a sobering reality: while infrastructure in Jammu’s higher education sector has expanded, the qualitative aspects—research, innovation, placements, and perception—remain weak. Unless universities and colleges shift their focus from “buildings to brains”, the gap with not only Kashmir but also the rest of the country will keep widening”, higher education experts said.
“The day Jammu’s institutes start producing impactful research, skilled graduates, and strong industry linkages, their rankings will rise. Otherwise, brick-and-mortar expansion alone won’t take them to the top 100”, they maintained.
