Bhubaneswar, May 13: Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA), ranked as one of the top educational institutions in India, has found place in the QS I-GAUGE list of ‘Institutions of Happiness’.

QS I-GAUGE, Indian subsidiary of UK-based QS Quacquarelli Symonds, after a rigorous assessment exercise covering more than 100 institutions across the country conducted in association with industry body ASSOCHAM, had prepared the list of IOH comprising 33 universities, colleges and schools.

The certificates were awarded at an event held in New Delhi on Thursday by Union minister for Women and Child Development, Smriti Irani. SOA’s Pro-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Amit Banerjee and Officer-on-Special Duty, Pritam Nayak received the certificate on behalf of the Deemed to be University. Incidentally, SOA is the only institution from Odisha to find place in the list.

SOA was ranked as the 20th institution in the university category by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) in 2021.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Ashwin Fernandes, CEO and Director of QS I-GAUGE said quality and excellence were of great significance in imparting education as it enhanced the capacities and capabilities of the learners who could bridge the gap between the underdeveloped and developed nations. QS I-GAUGE was actively involved in providing global expertise to Indian institutions in this journey, he said.