Global University Rankings: Implications in general and for Australia
- 1 July 2007
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Informa UK Limited in Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management
- Vol. 29 (2), 131-142
- https://doi.org/10.1080/13600800701351660
Abstract
Global university rankings have arrived, and though still in a process of rapid evolution, they are likely to substantially influence the long‐term development of higher education across the world. The inclusions, definitions, methods, implications and effects are of great importance. This paper analyses and critiques the two principal rankings systems prepared so far, the research rankings prepared by Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the composite rankings from the Times Higher Education Supplement. It goes on to discuss the divergence between them in the performance of Australian universities, draws attention to the policy implications of rankings, and canvasses the methodological difficulties and problems. It concludes by advocating the system of university comparisons developed by the Centre for Higher Educational Development (CHE) in Germany. This evades most of the problems and perverse effects of the other rankings systems, particularly reputational and whole‐of‐institution rankings. It provides data more directly useful to and controlled by prospective students, and more relevant to teaching and learning.Keywords
This publication has 10 references indexed in Scilit:
- Globalisation and Higher EducationPublished by Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) ,2007
- Global Position and Position Taking: The Case of AustraliaJournal of Studies in International Education, 2007
- Dynamics of National and Global Competition in Higher EducationHigher Education, 2006
- Measuring University QualityThe Review of Higher Education, 2005
- Latent Variable Analysis: A New Approach to University RankingHigher Education in Europe, 2005
- Twenty Years of University Report CardsHigher Education in Europe, 2005
- The Academic Ranking of World UniversitiesHigher Education in Europe, 2005
- Statistical and Mathematical Aspects of Ranking: Lessons from PolandHigher Education in Europe, 2005
- Academic quality, league tables, and public policy: A cross-national analysis of university ranking systemsHigher Education, 2005
- Knowledge as a Global Public GoodPublished by Oxford University Press (OUP) ,1999