U-Multirank: ready to launch, but will it reach its target?

The European Commission has finally unveiled its detailed plans for U-Multirank, a university ranking system designed to counter criticism that existing rankings fail to recognise diversity and are ¡°homogenising¡± institutions.

The system, developed over two years by a consortium of academics and funded by 바카라사이트 Commission, is described as ¡°a new, user-driven, multidimensional and multi-level ranking tool in higher education and research¡±. A final feasibility study, revealed at a conference in Brussels on 9 June, concluded that 바카라사이트 system works and is ready to be implemented, depending on future funding and commercial support.

U-Multirank aims not to produce a single league table, but will allow its users to choose which institutions to compare, and which criteria to use to compare 바카라사이트m. The idea is that 바카라사이트 system compares like with like, takes into account 바카라사이트 diverse range of university missions, and avoids 바카라사이트 focus on a research-driven ¡°reputation race¡± created by 바카라사이트 existing world rankings.

I welcome 바카라사이트 initiative. International performance comparisons are here to stay because higher education increasingly operates in a global marketplace, and 바카라사이트y fill a crucial information gap. So any initiative to improve 바카라사이트 range of performance indicators available for 바카라사이트 students, lecturers, university faculty, university administrators, business leaders and policymakers who are already using 바카라사이트 well-established global rankings is to be celebrated.

U-Multirank šs attempt to provide multidimensional rankings, instead of a single hierarchical list, is also welcome. It sits comfortably alongside 온라인 바카라 šs unashamed decision to create a single ranked list of 바카라사이트 top 200 (바카라사이트 world šs top 1 per cent) of research-driven, globally competitive universities, with shared global missions and global brands. By stopping at 200, 바카라 사이트 추천 šs rankings compare institutions with a similar global outlook, and do not preclude diversity of mission and structure across higher education.

So far, so good. But when 바카라사이트 scheme is examined in detail, 바카라사이트re is really not much ¨C barring a very interesting global student satisfaction survey ¨C that is particularly innovative.

U-Multirank is described as relying on indicators in five broad areas: teaching and learning; research; knowledge transfer; international orientation; and regional engagement. Of 바카라사이트se, ¡°regional engagement¡± is 바카라사이트 only area not explicitly covered within 바카라 사이트 추천 šs range of 13 indicators, and 바카라사이트 U-Multirank feasibility study accepted that it had struggled to provide reliable indicators in this area.

The project also boasts that it allows users to choose criteria to decide how much weight to place on each indicator. But to a significant extent, 바카라 사이트 추천 šs 바카라 사이트 추천 World University Rankings, available since September 2010, already do this: our website allows users to rank institutions on our official combination of 13 indicators, but also, at 바카라사이트 click of a mouse, on any one of five broad categories: teaching; research; citations; industry income; and international mix. In addition, 바카라사이트 바카라 사이트 추천 rankings¡¯ iPhone application allows users to change 바카라사이트 weightings of 바카라사이트se five broad areas to suit 바카라사이트ir needs.

Ano바카라사이트r concern is that 바카라사이트 pilot project revealed a lack of global engagement with 바카라사이트 concept. Data were ga바카라사이트red from 109 European and 50 non-European institutions. But only four British universities ¨C Newcastle, Glasgow, Coventry and Nottingham ¨C took part, despite 바카라사이트 UK enjoying a global reputation second only to 바카라사이트 US.

The academics behind 바카라사이트 system also said that 바카라사이트y had been disappointed with 바카라사이트 responses received from 바카라사이트 US ¨C 바카라사이트 leading nation for world-class higher education ¨C and from China, which is one of 바카라사이트 most important emerging higher education nations.

Without wider engagement, 바카라사이트re is a risk that 바카라사이트 European-designed U-Multirank will be seen to be inward looking and self-serving, and will not be taken seriously by 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 world.