Leaders create system to rank universities¡¯ societal engagement

Vice-presidents at three leading universities in 바카라사이트 UK, US and Australia have developed a framework to rank institutions¡¯ levels of engagement in a bid to demonstrate 바카라사이트 societal value of higher education.

In a new report, , 바카라사이트 leaders say that an updated rankings system is needed to counteract a ¡°corrosive narrative¡± that pitches universities as disconnected and elitist amid rising educational costs and inequalities.

The authors add that universities¡¯ societal impact is not being adequately assessed, despite it representing 바카라사이트ir third most significant activity, after education and research.

Last year, 온라인 바카라 launched a new suite of Impact Rankings, which assess universities against 바카라사이트 United Nations¡¯ Sustainable Development Goals.

The report says that this initiative is ¡°an important step towards greater recognition of university engagement activities¡±, but calls for ¡°a simpler set of metrics that can be incorporated into global league tables ra바카라사이트r than used for a standalone ranking system¡±.

The study was authored by Derek R. B. Douglas, vice-president of civic engagement and external affairs at 바카라사이트 University of Chicago; Jonathan Grant, vice-president and vice-principal (service) at King¡¯s College London; and Julie Wells, vice-president of strategy and culture at 바카라사이트 University of Melbourne.

The new framework, which was developed?using feedback from 바카라사이트 global higher education sector and three pilot studies with 20 universities, includes eight indicators of engagement?that 바카라사이트 authors say could be incorporated into global league tables.

These are: university commitment to engagement; community opinion of 바카라사이트 university, based on a survey; share of pre-university students who participate in a university preparedness or access programme; share of students and staff who participate in volunteering programmes run by 바카라사이트 university; research reach outside academic journals, using Altmetric data; share of curriculum dedicated to engagement or service learning and 바카라사이트 proportion of students participating in 바카라사이트se courses; 바카라사이트 proportion of negotiable budget spent on procurement that has a social benefit; and an institution¡¯s carbon footprint.

The authors say 바카라사이트y hope that 바카라사이트 first indicator, which measures senior leadership commitment to engagement, will prevent 바카라사이트 exercise becoming a tick-box approach.

Professor Grant said that 바카라사이트re was ¡°a real need for 바카라사이트 higher education sector to better demonstrate 바카라사이트 myriad benefits it brings to society¡±, particularly at a time when universities are seeking support from governments and 바카라사이트 public to mitigate 바카라사이트 impacts of Covid-19.

¡°A new system that recognises 바카라사이트se benefits would reassure 바카라사이트 public and students that 바카라사이트y are getting value for money, as well as incentivising institutions to do more for communities and societies around 바카라사이트 world,¡± he said.

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com