World university ranking is a process of evaluating and comparing the quality and performance of universities around the world, based on various criteria and indicators. World university ranking can provide useful information and insights for students, academics, policymakers, employers, and others who are interested in higher education.
Types and Methods of World Universities Ranking
There are many types and methods of world university ranking, depending on the purpose, scope, and approach of the ranking. Some of the common and influential types and methods are:
- Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU): This is a ranking that was first published in 2003 by Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and is now maintained by the ShanghaiRanking Consultancy1. This ranking focuses on research excellence and impact and uses six indicators: alumni and staff winning Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals, highly cited researchers, papers published in Nature and Science, papers indexed in major citation indices, and per capita academic performance. This ranking covers more than 2,000 universities and publishes the top 1,000.
- QS World University Rankings: This is a ranking that was first published in 2004 by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), a British company that specializes in education and study abroad2. This ranking evaluates four areas: teaching, research, employability, and internationalization, and uses eight indicators: academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty/student ratio, citations per faculty, international faculty ratio, international student ratio, sustainability, and employment outcomes. This ranking covers more than 1,500 universities and publishes the top 1,400.
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings (THE): This is a ranking that was first published in 2004 by Times Higher Education (THE), a British magazine that covers higher education3. This ranking assesses 13 aspects of university performance, grouped into five areas: teaching, research, citations, industry income, and international outlook. This ranking covers more than 1,800 universities and publishes the top 1,600.
- U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities Rankings: This is a ranking that was first published in 2014 by U.S. News & World Report, an American media company that publishes news and information on various topics. This ranking measures academic research and reputation and uses 13 indicators: global and regional research reputation, publications, books, conferences, normalized citation impact, total citations, number and percentage of highly cited papers, international collaboration, number and percentage of international co-authored publications, number and percentage of international faculty, number and percentage of international students, and international research network. This ranking covers more than 1,600 universities and publishes the top 1,500.
Benefits and Limitations of World Universities Ranking
World university ranking can provide various benefits, such as:
- Enhancing the visibility and reputation of universities, and attracting more students, faculty, funding, and partnerships.
- Providing a benchmark and feedback for universities, and encouraging them to improve their quality and performance.
- Offering a reference and guidance for students, parents, employers, and others who are looking for the best universities for their needs and preferences.
However, world university ranking also has some limitations, such as:
- Relying on imperfect and incomplete data, and using subjective and arbitrary indicators, weights, and methods.
- Failing to capture the diversity and complexity of universities, and ignoring the differences in missions, goals, and contexts.
- Creating competition and pressure for universities, and influencing their policies and practices negatively or positively.
Conclusion
World university ranking is a popular and influential phenomenon that compares and evaluates the quality and performance of universities around the world. World university ranking uses various types and methods, and has various benefits and limitations. World university ranking can be a useful and informative source, but it should not be the only or the final factor in choosing or judging a university.