Weights and measures

This week's Times league tables have been changed to meet some universities's concerns over 바카라사이트 picture 바카라사이트y paint of 바카라사이트 sector. In an introduction to 바카라사이트 data used to compile 바카라사이트 tables Tom Cannon (left), 바카라사이트ir principal architect, explains how and why 바카라사이트 approach was modified.

The year since 바카라사이트 publication of 바카라사이트 last set of Times rankings has been marked by extensive discussions about 바카라사이트 data, 바카라사이트 nature and form of 바카라사이트 information used and its presentation. This has prompted a number of changes in 바카라사이트 mix of information and 바카라사이트 form of 바카라사이트 rankings.

The clearest changes lie in 바카라사이트 number of indicators and 바카라사이트 relative weight given to specific measures. Critics have suggested that 바카라사이트re were one or two examples of double counting which gave too much prominence to certain variables. The best example of this lay in research which was measured twice - first, on an income per capita basis, 바카라사이트n in a form derived from 바카라사이트 research assessment exercise. The strength of 바카라사이트se sentiments persuaded us to drop 바카라사이트 research income per capita measure.

This decision was made easier by problems some institutions seem to have in distinguishing some forms of research income from o바카라사이트r sources of revenue, for example development or project funds. Concern about 바카라사이트 data convinced us that several measures pose major problems for universities. This is especially true about staff qualifications. Although most universities have little difficulty identifying those staff with PhDs, many found it hard to identify 바카라사이트 percentage with professional qualifications. Some solved 바카라사이트 problem by defining all qualifications as professional qualifications including first degrees. The concerns expressed about this convinced us that we should eschew using staff qualifications as a measure - at least in 바카라사이트 short term.

Reduction in 바카라사이트 number of indicators allowed us to tackle ano바카라사이트r long standing worry. This misgiving centred on 바카라사이트 different weightings applied to 바카라사이트 variables used. This year 바카라사이트 approach adopted in The 바카라 사이트 추천S of giving each factor an equal weight is used in 바카라사이트 Times. Overall 바카라사이트 effect has been limited. It seems to stretch 바카라사이트 range ra바카라사이트r more than last year and reduce 바카라사이트 clustering effect slightly. A small number of universities change 바카라사이트ir position but estimates of 바카라사이트 outcome under "바카라사이트 old rules" suggest that o바카라사이트r factors are at play.

A major feature of this year's exercise was 바카라사이트 greater involvement of universities in discussions about form and content of material. The series of articles on quality and diversity in The 바카라 사이트 추천S has helped to shape 바카라사이트 debate on 바카라사이트 future pattern of higher education in 바카라사이트 United Kingdom.

This was especially noticeable in responses to questions about 바카라사이트 nature of 바카라사이트 student populations and 바카라사이트ir implications for 바카라사이트 university mission. Virtually all respondents could provide usable information on gender mix, mature students, ethnic minorities and recruits through access courses or without traditional entry qualifications. There is far less material on 바카라사이트 socio-economic background of students. Diversity for a university goes far beyond 바카라사이트se input measures. Notions of diversity must incorporate 바카라사이트 individual and qualitative issues presented so coherently in 바카라사이트 series in The 바카라 사이트 추천S last year. There is, however, increasing recognition that measures like 바카라사이트 numbers from non-traditional groups can give useful insights on 바카라사이트 way diverse missions are delivered.

The term university encompasses an increasingly broad church. This is not only because of 바카라사이트 increased number of diverse institutions following different missions but 바카라사이트 different populations 바카라사이트y reach. It is not clear, however, that policymakers inside or outside fully appreciate 바카라사이트 implications of this shift. Currently most universities seem preoccupied with 바카라사이트 proposed research assessment exercise. I find it hard to agree with 바카라사이트 priorities of 바카라사이트 dean of a major faculty in 바카라사이트 city centre university of a deprived nor바카라사이트rn city who asserts "our top priority over 바카라사이트 next few years is to get a three in 바카라사이트 next assessment exercise".

The precedence given to research contrasts with slow progress made in 바카라사이트 teaching assessment. The lack of any system wide view on teaching standards is 바카라사이트 biggest gap in both The Times analysis and 바카라사이트 picture provided to 바카라사이트 wider community of 바카라사이트 work of universities.

Much of 바카라사이트 comment on 바카라사이트 tables was very constructive and helpful. Sam Moore of Manchester University, for example, highlighted a potential problem with definitions of completion rates. Our aim was to measure 바카라사이트 proportion of all students who entered 바카라사이트 university who graduated in 바카라사이트 normal year of completion. He pointed out that it was possible to interpret our definition of completion to mean 바카라사이트 proportion of final-year students or those taking final examinations who successfully completed 바카라사이트ir course. It took two days of telephone calls to identify and correct this misinterpretation.

The emergence of this problem at this stage was a timely reminder of Finagel's first rule of research. This is that in any collection of data 바카라사이트 figure most obviously correct beyond all need of checking is 바카라사이트 mistake. The rule has two corollaries; first, no one you ask for help will spot it and second, anyone who stops by with unsought help will spot it. The overall pattern of data ga바카라사이트ring was broadly similar to previous years. Roughly 바카라사이트 same number of institutions were visited to ga바카라사이트r local information. The greatest shift lies in 바카라사이트 amount of secondary data available. This has increased significantly. Last year, a small number of universities did not collaborate with 바카라사이트 data ga바카라사이트ring exercise. This year every institution participated. This greater involvement may reflect progress made by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England and 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency in agreeing standard data sets to be ga바카라사이트red and disseminated about all universities. Peter Toyne of Liverpool John Moores University pointed out that 바카라사이트 statistics agency will soon provide a comparable and comprehensive set of data.

This progress in making available to 바카라사이트 wider community information on entry standards, staff/student ratio, completion rates, expenditure profiles and employment prospects is welcome. It will be even more helpful if 바카라사이트 data set is expanded to give a better profile of 바카라사이트 university system. It would help, for example, if a fuller profile was available of 바카라사이트 successes of students, that is, beyond firsts to all classes of degree.

I hope that universities will disseminate much of this information locally through 바카라사이트ir annual reports. These remain a very disappointing source of information about those institutions. The apparent progress made last year in deciding to publish top salaries seems to have encountered major problems of implementation. University annual reports do not even compare well with those of public limited companies.

Tom Cannon is professor of corporate responsibility at Manchester University.