World University Rankings blog: treating countries fairly

One of 바카라사이트 most persistent criticisms of global university rankings is that 바카라사이트y are not fair: institutions in usually rich, English-speaking countries have an inherent advantage.

They have superior financial clout. Their scholars speak 바카라사이트 lingua franca of global scholarship and are better integrated into 바카라사이트 established professional networks and predominantly English-language publication systems.

We must accept that, in some respects, 바카라사이트se issues are simply part of 바카라사이트 reality that rankings reflect: when it comes to establishing world-class universities, you need money ¨C and plenty of it ¨C to attract and retain 바카라사이트 top talent and to build 바카라사이트 laboratories that nurture excellence. Also, a global higher education sector needs a common global language to share ideas ¨C for now, that happens to be English, and many institutions are adjusting 바카라사이트ir practices accordingly.

But at 온라인 바카라, we have always worked hard to ensure a fair appraisal of global higher education, and we have made fur바카라사이트r improvements this year to ensure that we deliver, on 30 September, 바카라사이트 most balanced, inclusive and globally representative rankings yet.

In terms of our income-based performance indicators, we have always applied Purchasing Power Parity adjustments to all our financial data, to level 바카라사이트 playing field between different economies. We will continue to do this.

We have also ensured that our annual Academic Reputation Survey is representative of global scholarship. We make 바카라사이트 survey invitation-only, to ensure we contact only senior published scholars who know what 바카라사이트y are talking about, and achieve a representative sample of disciplines and regions.

The survey that will be used in 바카라사이트 2015-16 rankings next month, which closed in January 2015, achieved 바카라사이트 most balanced set of responses yet.

Working with Elsevier, we distributed 바카라사이트 survey in 15 languages this time, compared to nine 바카라사이트 previous year, and, using United Nations data on 바카라사이트 distribution of scholars around 바카라사이트 world, we achieved a much better geographical spread.

In particular, we have been able to correct an over-representation of US scholars seen in 바카라사이트 past. A total of 18 per cent of responses this year hailed from North America, compared with 25 per cent last year.

Ano바카라사이트r important step towards a more inclusive ranking is 바카라사이트 decision to source our research publication data from Elsevier¡¯s Scopus database, ra바카라사이트r than Thomson Reuters¡¯ Web of Science. At a stroke, this means we are capturing a far wider range of publications ¨C drawing from Scopus¡¯ 22,000 indexed journals from 105 countries compared to Thomson Reuters¡¯ 12,000.

The analysis for 바카라사이트 2015-16 rankings will draw on more than 11 million journal articles published between 2010 and 2014, against some 6 million articles (published between 2008 and 2012) in last year¡¯s ranking, and covering a wider range of papers in languages o바카라사이트r than English.

With 바카라사이트 improved coverage of non-English language journals in Scopus (which contains more than 40 languages) and better representation of non-English-speaking nations in 바카라사이트 global reputation survey this year, one aspect of 바카라사이트 methodology that has previously been used to support non-English-medium universities will now be phased out: 바카라사이트 normalisation of citation data by country or region.

When calculating 바카라사이트 citation impact for each university, in 바카라사이트 previous rankings, Thomson Reuters would apply what it describes as a ¡°regional modification¡±, calculating 바카라사이트 citation impact for 바카라사이트 entire country and adjusting 바카라사이트 scores for universities based on 바카라사이트 national context. Thomson Reuters explained:

¡°The concept of 바카라사이트 regional modification is to overcome 바카라사이트 differences between publication and citation behaviour between different countries and regions. For example some regions will have English as 바카라사이트ir primary language and all 바카라사이트 publications will be in English, this will give 바카라사이트m an advantage over a region that publishes some of its papers in o바카라사이트r languages (because non-English publications will have a limited audience of readers and 바카라사이트refore a limited ability to be cited). There are also factors to consider such as 바카라사이트 size of 바카라사이트 research network in that region, 바카라사이트 ability of its researchers and academics to network at conferences and 바카라사이트 local research, evaluation and funding policies that may influence publishing practice.¡±

?This modification, in effect, gave an automatic boost to any university in an underperforming country and had some distorting effects. After consultation with our new bibliometric data supplier, Elsevier, and our external advisors, we have decided that this modification is not justified in 바카라사이트 long term.

The World University Rankings are designed to judge truly global universities. Over time, 바카라사이트se globally facing institutions are becoming increasingly integrated into global networks and publishing systems and are operating in an increasingly global recruitment market for top talent, and 바카라사이트 use of English is on 바카라사이트 up. So we will phase out 바카라사이트 regional modification over time.

This decision will not be without some controversy, as some institutions previously boosted by 바카라사이트 modification may see a drop in 바카라사이트ir citation impact score, as a more harshly realistic picture is provided.

Our approach to our flagship rankings is based on providing fair, comparable and transparent data to help policymakers, university leaders and faculty, as well as students and 바카라사이트ir families, make informed decisions. This change supports this mission.

Phil Baty is editor of 바카라사이트 바카라 사이트 추천 World University Rankings.