Shillong, Feb 19: The University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) has strongly refuted the recent remarks made by the Chief Minister of Assam Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on February 16 which labelled the university as fraudulent.

USTM, established in 2011, is a private university committed to higher education, research, and social welfare.

A statement issued by the university said that such statements not only defame the institution but also question the credibility of India’s highest statutory and accreditation bodies that have recognized its excellence over the years.

Highlighting its accreditation and achievements, underscoring its ‘A’ Grade recognition by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) in its first cycle of assessment, USTM statement said, “The university also stands as the only private institution in Northeast India to be consistently ranked among the top 200 universities in the country by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) under the Ministry of Education for the last three consecutive years. Furthermore, USTM has been ranked 52 in the prestigious Nature Index, a global indicator of research quality and scientific output. The Meghalaya Private University Regulatory Board (MPURB) continuously reviews USTM’s education standards, reinforcing its commitment to academic excellence.”

Categorically rejecting the allegations, USTM asserted that such statements not only tarnish the reputation of a credible educational institution but also demoralize thousands of students, faculty members, and researchers dedicated to academic excellence.

“We urge the Assam Chief Minister to engage in a fact-based discourse and acknowledge USTM’s contributions to higher education,” the university stated. “We remain steadfast in our mission to serve the nation through quality education, research, and social empowerment. Furthermore, we welcome any inquiry or investigation by any authority to cross-verify our credentials.”

USTM reiterated that its teaching, learning, and evaluation processes strictly adhere to the guidelines set by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and USTM’s own regulations. The PhD program follows a rigorous and transparent research process, exceeding even the benchmarks set by premier institutions. The research scrutiny process at USTM involves multiple levels of quality assurance, with evaluations conducted in the presence of external experts from top institutions, including IIT Guwahati, Tezpur University, North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Delhi University, and Gauhati University. So far, USTM has awarded 111 PhDs under the guidance of its highly qualified faculty members.

The university further reinforced its academic standing by citing its 140 patents that have been published or granted, along with 1,085 research papers published in reputed national and international journals. Additionally, over 350 UGC-NET and GATE-qualified students have emerged from USTM, with many receiving prestigious fellowships and gaining admission to premier institutions such as IISc Bangalore, IITs, NITs, and Central Universities.

The university’s growing reputation has attracted distinguished visitors, including former Presidents of India Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Shri Ram Nath Kovind, along with Chairpersons of the UGC, UPSC, NAAC, Cabinet Ministers, and Chief Ministers from various states.

Also Read: Meghalaya HC quashes FIR against former DGP L K Bishnoi

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