Evaluating research and innovation performance of Deemed-to-be Universities in India: A metric-based comparative study

Objective: This study evaluates the research performance of accredited health science universities by drawing up key indicators consisting of faculty engagement, research funding, student-faculty ratios, research fellow enrollment, and innovation. The research gives insight into the extent of research productivity and extent of support structures for institutional sorority establishments by scrutinizing universities accredited by the NAAC. Methodology: This study analyzes the accreditation data for NAAC-accredited health science universities between January 2021 and September 2023. Academic aspects like faculty recognition; research funding; startup incubation activity; research publications; and citation impact are used to assess institutional research performance. The analysis gives a comparative exposition of research performance. Findings: The findings show large variability between institutions. Yenepoya Deemed University has the highest student-to-faculty ratio, while BLDE has the lowest. Sumandeep Vidyapeeth, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, and MAHE are the top three institutions for faculty research funding, with DMIHER having the largest proportion of faculty obtaining research awards. DYP and MAHE have the most research fellows, while KLE, SSAHE, and MAHE top in startup incubation. Institutions like KIMS, KLE, SIMTS, MAHE, DMIHER, Yenepoya, and DYP outperform the average Citation Index, indicating great research impact. Implications: Results demonstrate the increased urge to consider enhancing research funding, faculty mentorship, and collaborations with industry. Institutions that tend to have low research engagement, in actuality, it is suggested that they refurbish their ability for grant acquisition, their incentive towards mentorship, and their innovation frameworks with respect to their scientific research. The accreditation boards need to include greater research metrics that would refine the pathways for institution comparisons.