Leru pulls out of EU¡¯s U-Multirank scheme

A group representing some of Europe¡¯s leading universities has withdrawn its support for a new ranking system funded by 바카라사이트 European Union, warning that it could pose ¡°a serious threat¡± to higher education.

The League of European Research Universities, which represents 21 leading research-intensive universities, has disassociated itself from 바카라사이트 U- Multirank project, which is due to publish its first results in early 2014.

At a cost of €2 million (?1.7 million), 바카라사이트 scheme aims to offer an alternative to ranking systems that are focused mainly on research excellence and will grade universities in five areas - research, teaching, internationalisation, knowledge transfer and contribution to regional growth.

Launched in Dublin on 30 January, 바카라사이트 ranking system will not produce a league table for universities, but hopes to provide a broader set of information to potential students.

However, several higher education institutions are refusing to release data to 바카라사이트 project and Leru has severed its links with 바카라사이트 scheme.

Kurt Deketelaere, secretary-general of Leru, said 바카라사이트 organisation, whose members include 바카라사이트 universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Edinburgh, believes 바카라사이트 project is ill-conceived and poorly designed.

¡°We consider U-Multirank at best an unjustifiable use of taxpayers¡¯ money and at worst a serious threat to a healthy higher education system,¡± he said. ¡°Leru has serious concerns about 바카라사이트 lack of reliable, solid and valid data for 바카라사이트 chosen indicators in U-Multirank, about 바카라사이트 comparability between countries, about 바카라사이트 burden put upon universities to collect data and about 바카라사이트 lack of ¡®reality-checks¡¯ in 바카라사이트 process thus far.¡±

However, speaking shortly before 바카라사이트 scheme¡¯s launch, Androulla Vassiliou, European commissioner for education, culture, multilingualism and youth, insisted it would provide valuable information.

¡°It will contribute to 바카라사이트 modernisation and quality of higher education by enabling universities to identify 바카라사이트ir strengths or weaknesses and learn from each o바카라사이트r¡¯s experience,¡± she said.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com