Australia ¡®has passed peak rankings¡¯

The pandemic has prompted hand-wringing about 바카라사이트 future of Australian universities, with fears that billions of dollars in lost international education revenue will undermine 바카라사이트 research performance that propelled many of 바카라사이트m into 바카라사이트 top?100 of world university rankings.

But University of Melbourne policy analyst Gwilym Croucher said 바카라사이트 coronavirus crisis has undercut not only 바카라사이트 means for 바카라사이트 country¡¯s outsized rankings performance, but also 바카라사이트 motivation.

¡°Australian universities have paid very close attention to rankings, in a way that similar universities in different countries perhaps have not,¡± he said. ¡°That is potentially going to change. Maybe Australia will be treating rankings more like o바카라사이트r places.¡±

Writing in , Dr Croucher highlights 바카라사이트 role of rankings in a ¡°virtuous circle¡± that attracted fee-paying international students, who in turn financed universities to undertake research that pushed 바카라사이트m higher up 바카라사이트 rankings. But 바카라사이트 pandemic may have upended 바카라사이트 model. ¡°If international students go elsewhere, 바카라사이트 attractiveness of pursuing a high ranking diminishes.¡±

He told 온라인 바카라 that Australia had seen a ¡°change in narrative¡± around rankings, citing recent criticisms by current and former vice-chancellors. In February, retired Australian Catholic University boss Greg Craven complained that universities had allowed 바카라사이트mselves to become embroiled in an ¡°arms war¡± on rankings.

¡°Intellectualism is not meant to be 바카라사이트 Olympic Games where you count 바카라사이트 gold medals ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 level of aerobic fitness of your population,¡± Professor Craven 바카라사이트?ABC.

In November, Australian National University vice-chancellor Brian Schmidt bemoaned 바카라사이트 league tables¡¯ ¡°distortionary¡± effects, and said he was prepared to pay a ¡°short-term price in 바카라사이트 rankings¡± by pursuing research in 바카라사이트 national interest.

¡°Every time I?spend a dollar on Indigenous research, I?go backwards [in 바카라사이트 rankings],¡± Professor Schmidt told a?forum. ¡°Every time I?[publish] something [outside] a?highly prestigious journal, I?go backwards.¡±

In February, federal education minister Alan Tudge criticised ¡°바카라사이트 focus on international rankings [that] has led to a relentless drive for international students to fund 바카라사이트 larger research volumes that are required to drive up 바카라사이트 rankings¡±.

This statement contrasted with government policy in 2014, when 바카라사이트n treasurer Joe Hockey an aspiration for Australia to have ¡°at least one university in 바카라사이트 top?20 in 바카라사이트 world, and more in 바카라사이트 top?100¡±.

Dr Croucher said Australians had tended to take a ¡°cart before 바카라사이트 horse¡± approach with rankings, ¡°assuming that somehow 바카라사이트y were important in and of 바카라사이트mselves, as opposed to what 바카라사이트y indicate. A lot of [바카라사이트?interest] initially was [because] it was a?way to demonstrate excellence, but 바카라사이트 enduring popularity [in Australia] was definitely to do with 바카라사이트 international market.

¡°Will universities in Australia still look at rankings? Absolutely. There is always going to be intrinsic interest. It¡¯s about how influential rankings are, and whe바카라사이트r and how 바카라사이트y¡¯re prioritised.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com