: Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore has been crowned as Best Global University Employability in India as per Times Higher Education with Global Ranking at 28. Indian Institute of Technology Delhi stands second in India with global ranking at 53.

Indian Institute of Management               secures 144 while  Indian Institute of Technology Bombay  claims 150-200 band.

India improves standing for graduate employability across decade, but has not matched the advances made by others in region.

South Korea ‘most improved’ in Asia for graduate employability. Hong Kong, Taiwan see good improvement over time – however mainland China rise comparatively slow.

US universities still dominate – but data reveals sharp drop since 2011; France and UK also decline in performance, but Germany soars.

India’S universities are ceding ground to global competitors in preparing students for the modern workplace, new data analysis from the Global University Employability Ranking reveals.

The time series analysis – published this week alongside the 2018 report – shows how, since 2011, India has seen some improvement to its representation and institutional positions in the table, but has not kept pace with advances made by other countries in the region and globally.

 The annual ranking – produced by HR consultancy, Emerging, and published by Times Higher Education (THE) – lists the top 150 institutions worldwide for employability, based on a global survey of around 7,000 recruitment and international managers from major businesses.

This year, new time series analysis reveals countries’ overall performance since the first edition of the survey and ranking in 2011, based on annual representation and ranking positions (methodology and tables below).

South Korea’s performance in the table has improved more than any other Asian nation. In 2011, the country had just one representative in the top 150. This year, it has six – one less than mainland China.  The overall performance of its institutions in the 2018 table is up almost two-fold from last year.

 Elsewhere, Hong Kong and Taiwan have also swiftly improved.  However, the analysis shows that, while mainland China continues to dominate in the region, it has not experienced this same surge in recent years. While it has swiftly advanced up THE’s World University Rankings, for graduate employability, its rise has been considerably slower – with just minimal change compared with four years ago.

This may reflect the traditional emphasis placed by Chinese institutions on hard, practical skills, as opposed to softer skills, such as communication and teamwork, increasingly favoured by employers. Whereas Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea, while offering strong links with industry, may have been quicker to recognise the importance of soft skills.

There is some solid improvement this year for India, however. In the 2018 global listing, the Indian Institute of Science rises one position to 28th, while the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi soars this year to place global 53rd, from 145 last year.

The 2018 global listing is topped by Harvard University, which climbs one spot to switch places with the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the University of Cambridge both rise one place to third and fourth, while Stanford University scales two positions this year, to place fifth.

 Other global takeaways from the 2011-2018 time series data analysis:

 The global employability gap is narrowing as US dominance wanes

 The global top 10 of the 2018 employability ranking now spans five countries – up from four last year.

 And while the US continues to dominate the ranking, the time series data analysis reveals a swiftly narrowing global employability gap. Since 2011, the US has experienced a sharp decline in performance – greater than any other nation in the table. It comes amid intensified competition – particularly from East Asia. The nation has 34 institutions in the top 150 this year, compared to 55 in 2011, with six universities in the top 10 – a fall from seven last year.

 The UK and France drop back – but Germany soars

 The UK does largely hold its position in this year’s ranking – retaining 10 institutions. However, in 2011 it was the second best represented nation globally, with 15 in the top 150. Since then, the country’s overall performance has declined more than any other European nation.

 France has also declined since 2011. The country also has 10 institutions included in this year’s ranking – down from 12 last year, placing it global joint third with the UK.

 In contrast, Germany – which employs strong industry experience for students, favoured by recruiters – has soared, becoming the most-improved European nation for overall performance since 2011 (see final table below). It overtakes France this year to become second most represented nation globally, after the US.

 Since 2011, Germany has also more than doubled its number of institutions in the top 150, to 13.

 Key takeaways from the 2018 Global University Employability Survey:

 Most countries place higher value on soft skills – but China values hard skills more. The 2018 survey reveals that most countries value soft skills, such as collaboration and communication – whereas harder, practical skills are valued most in China.

 There is an East-West divide in the importance placed on critical thinking. There was also a noticeable difference in the emphasis placed on graduates having critical thinking skills between countries in East Asia and Europe or North America. In the US, 90 per cent of employers rated this as very important, while in China this fell to 75 per cent.

 Firms see interdisciplinary or problem-based learning as the key area for universities to strengthen: 71 per cent of respondents rated it as a very important measure to improve on – higher than any other issue.

 Laurent Dupasquier, Managing Partner at Emerging, said: “Today’s digital world makes for a constantly evolving workplace – the skills required in many roles will need regular updating and it has become impossible to determine which of them will change tomorrow, and how. While digital skills are increasingly valued by recruiters, more than anything, universities must instil in students the capacity to adapt and keep learning: these will be crucial skills for success not only to cope, but thrive in a transforming workplace. University-industry collaboration will also be of increasing value, in order provide students with the necessary on-the-ground experience.”

Simon Baker, Data Editor at Times Higher Education (THE) said:  “The new data analysis reveals a substantial global shift in graduate employability this decade. We see a dramatically improved performance within East Asia and parts of Europe. By-and-large, the highest risers are those equipping students with softer skills increasingly favoured among recruiters, such as teamwork – combined with the strongest possible industry experience.

“India’s performance in the employability ranking has been somewhat inconsistent since the list was first launched in 2011. It still only counts three universities in the top 150, suggesting it’s struggling to make the reputational ground with employers that some other Asian nations have achieved.”

He added: “The analysis this year also reveals extent of the decline since 2011 among traditionally dominant countries like the US and UK. The increasingly international outlook of Asian universities, as well as the use of English becoming more widespread – removing a natural competitive advantage of the UK and US – have been two key factors behind this.”