Rourkela: The National Institute of Technology (NIT) here has secured 138th position in the Times Higher Education (THE) Emerging Economies University Rankings 2018.

This time, the institute has made a galloping leap from 198th position it secured last year among various universities of the world.

Bidyadhara Subudhi, a professor in the department of electrical engineering, said: "Last year, we secured 198th position and this time it is 138th, which is commendable."

"We have been thoroughly committed to improve our ranking because this gives you an international standing amongst the top universities and institutes. For an institute to go to the next level in every sphere of activities, like research, academics, patent, contribution to the industry, contribution to the international research, the ranking always helps as this attract others to collaborate with you," he said

The ranking process has thirteen parameters. "Amongst the thirteen parameters, the most notables are - teaching and pedagogy, research and knowledge sharing or transfer. Through knowledge transfer and sharing you show your intellectual ability and penchant for creativity in technology. Besides, the research parameter helps in changing the international perception to your research ability and taking it to the cutting edge category," Subudhi said.

Explaining further about knowledge transfer, the professor said: "This leads to product design and technology transfer to the industry and we are doing very good job."

This time, there were 42 countries, including China and India, and Pakistan was the new entrant, Subudhi said. "Besides, there were countries from Europe, and North and South America continents. We will certainly improve our position in the next ranking and we are confident about it"

Earlier, director of institute of technology A. Biswas said: "I want to see this institute to grow academically and rank amongst the top 200 in the next three to four years and we will work to achieve that." He said academics was his prime concentration area for the institute.