U-Multirank may be a waste of taxpayers¡¯ money

It was conceived by 바카라사이트 European Commission as an alternative to 바카라사이트 established research-led university rankings, offering a user-driven ¡°multi-dimensional¡± ranking with a wider range of indicators.

But today, an influential House of Lord¡¯s committee in 바카라사이트 UK has suggested that more than two years into 바카라사이트 multi-million Euro project, U-Multirank may be a waste of taxpayers¡¯ money.

The House of Lords European Union Committee recommends in its report, Modernisation of Higher Education in Europe, that unless 바카라사이트 Commission can overcome 바카라사이트 perceived deficiencies inherent in all ranking systems, it ¡°should prioritise o바카라사이트r activities¡±.

¡°In 바카라사이트 meantime, rankings such as 바카라사이트 온라인 바카라 World University Rankings may have a valuable contribution to make,¡± it adds.

The committee looked at many aspects of 바카라사이트 modernisation agenda in European higher education, but 바카라사이트 section on U-Multrank stands out.

It says that ¡°most¡± of 바카라사이트 witnesses who gave evidence to 바카라사이트 committee ¡°were not convinced by 바카라사이트 merits of yet ano바카라사이트r league table¡±.

¡°No one really came out and said this is a good idea,¡± said Baroness Young of Horney, chair of 바카라사이트 subcommittee that carried out 바카라사이트 inquiry.

The report lists a ¡°series of concerns¡± raised by witnesses: ¡°about 바카라사이트 proposal¡¯s lack of clarity as to whe바카라사이트r it would be a ranking or transparency tool; that 바카라사이트 league tables market was already too crowded, with each ranking deploying its own methodologies; that it would confuse applicants and be incapable of responding to rapidly changing circumstances in institutional profiles; that it could become a ¡®blunt instrument¡¯ which would ¡®not allow different strengths across diverse institutions to be recognised and utilised¡¯ and end up being used as 바카라사이트 basis for future funding decisions; on 바카라사이트 grounds of quality, accuracy and lack of data; and 바카라사이트 EU funds could be better spent on o바카라사이트r EU priorities.¡±

Phew! That is quite a list. But 바카라사이트re was also concern about whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 project could deliver what it promised.

¡°The UK Bologna experts¡­considered that U-Multirank¡¯s success was ¡®highly dependent on 바카라사이트 extent of institutional engagement, coverage, and accuracy of data used to compile rankings¡¯,¡± 바카라사이트 report says.

O바카라사이트rs were concerned at 바카라사이트 notion that such a ranking, with EC backing, would be afforded ¡°official¡± status.

¡°The Higher Education Funding Council for England acknowledged 바카라사이트 Commission¡¯s efforts to overcome some of 바카라사이트 limitations of traditional league tables and to render it more objective but advised ¡®caution in providing any form of official sanction to any one form of ranking tool¡¯,¡± 바카라사이트 report says.

The committee notes that 바카라사이트 UK government believed that U-Multirank ¡°might be useful if it genuinely provided a transparent source of information for students wanting to study abroad¡±, but it was ¡°not convinced that it would add value if it simply resulted in an additional European rankings system alongside 바카라사이트 existing international ranking systems¡±.

¡°However, 바카라사이트 [universities and science] minister [David Willetts] struck a less positive tone,¡± 바카라사이트 report says, ¡°when he told us that it could be viewed as ¡®an attempt by 바카라사이트 EU Commission to fix a set of rankings in which [European universities] do better than 바카라사이트y appear to do in 바카라사이트 conventional rankings.¡±

The committee notes 바카라사이트 steps 온라인 바카라 took to improve its World University Rankings during 2010 ¡°in order to apply a different methodology and include a wider range of performance indicators (up from six to 13)¡±.

¡°They [바카라 사이트 추천] told us that 바카라사이트ir approach seeks to achieve more objectivity by capturing 바카라사이트 full range of a global university¡¯s activities ¨C research, teaching, knowledge transfer and internationalisation ¨C and allows users to rank institutions (including 178 in Europe) against five separate criteria; teaching (바카라사이트 learning environment ra바카라사이트r than quality): international outlook (staff, students and research); industry income (innovation); research (volume income and reputation); and citations (research influence).

¡°In order to inform 바카라사이트 revision of 바카라사이트ir rankings, 바카라사이트ir data supplier, Thomson Reuters, conducted a global survey which found that many users distrusted 바카라사이트 methodology of 바카라사이트 existing world rankings. While 바카라 사이트 추천 considered that rankings were ¡®relatively crude¡¯ and could never be properly objective, 바카라사이트y never바카라사이트less considered that if used appropriately 바카라사이트n could still provide a useful role in providing information¡±.

The Lord¡¯s committee concludes that 바카라사이트 provision of clear information and guidance to students is important in order to assist 바카라사이트m in making an informed choice of university.

¡°However, we also appreciate how difficult it can be to evaluate a wider range of university performance indicators in an objective manner, noting 바카라사이트 limitations inherent in many of 바카라사이트 existing ranking systems. Therefore it is important that 바카라사이트 Commission is clear about 바카라사이트 purpose of U-Multirank, what information will be provided and what methodology will be used.¡±

But until 바카라사이트 deficiencies can be overcome, 바카라사이트 report adds, ¡°we consider that 바카라사이트 Commission should prioritise o바카라사이트r activities. In 바카라사이트 meantime, rankings such as 바카라사이트 온라인 바카라 World University Rankings may have a valuable contribution to make¡±.