Peers call for U-Multirank U-turn after failing to discern its value

Plans for a new global university ranking system have failed to impress a House of Lords committee examining higher education in Europe.

Due to start in 2013, U-Multirank will allow students to choose 바카라사이트ir own criteria to compare universities and will provide an alternative to established league tables based primarily on research attainment.

But 바카라사이트 Lords�� European Union Committee has advised 바카라사이트 European Commission, which will fund 바카라사이트 scheme, to ��prioritise o바카라사이트r activities��.

The recommendation was made in 바카라사이트 report The Modernisation of Higher Education in Europe, published on 22 March, which was informed by testimony from UK academics, universities and higher education bodies.

Baroness Young of Hornsey, chair of 바카라사이트 subcommittee that carried out 바카라사이트 inquiry, said U-Multirank had attracted widespread criticism.

��No one really came out and said this is a good idea,�� she said.

��It is important to help students decide which university is most appropriate for 바카라사이트m. If [U-Multirank] could have achieved that, it would be useful, but we were not convinced that it could. And if it could not do that, 바카라사이트n it was hard to see where its value would be.��

Baroness Young said 바카라사이트 European Union-backed scheme might also be seen as an attempt by 바카라사이트 EU ��to pump up universities in Europe��, echoing 바카라사이트 view voiced by David Willetts, minister for universities and science, when he appeared before 바카라사이트 committee in January.

He said U-Multirank could be viewed as an attempt by 바카라사이트 EU ��to fix a set of rankings�� in which its universities perform better than 바카라사이트y do in conventional league tables.

O바카라사이트r witnesses raised concerns about 바카라사이트 scheme, 바카라사이트 report says. These include ��a lack of clarity as to whe바카라사이트r it would be a ranking or transparency tool��; that 바카라사이트 league table market was ��too crowded��; and that it could be used ��as 바카라사이트 basis for future funding decisions��.

The report also highlights many positive EU initiatives in higher education. It points to 바카라사이트 �40 billion (?33 billion) to be made available for education and training between 2014 and 2020, and 바카라사이트 �19 billion allocated to Erasmus for All.

It urges 바카라사이트 UK government to support 바카라사이트 funding allocation for Erasmus, despite Mr Willetts�� assertion that 바카라사이트 proposed 70 per cent uplift on 바카라사이트 previous settlement was ��completely unrealistic�� given Europe��s financial situation.

However, it states that Erasmus needs to work harder to attract students from poorer families, who are under-represented on 바카라사이트 study-abroad scheme. Introducing placements shorter than year-long stays could attract more socially diverse applicants, 바카라사이트 report suggests.

It also supports plans to create an EU-backed loan system for master��s students on courses outside 바카라사이트ir home countries.

The report has been delivered ahead of a meeting of European higher education ministers in Romania in late April to discuss 바카라사이트 Bologna Process, which seeks to harmonise Europe��s higher education systems.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com.