The plusses and minuses of university rankings

Every year, university leaders around the world anxiously await the publication of the latest university rankings. Whether their institutions improved their performance and gained positions, will determine their success (or failure) as administrators. 

In principle, it all makes perfect sense: it is only natural that the quality of universities should be measured, and the element of competition can be a powerful driver of improvement and innovation. And yet, there is hardly a more fiercely contested topic in international higher education than university rankings. Why? What are the problems and consequences (intended or not) of pitchting universities against each other? Are there better ways? And – perhaps more fundamentally – why are rankings so hugely important, if everyone seems to be unhappy with them?

Ellen Hazelkorn spoke about university rankings to the European Association of International Education. Listen to the podcast.

https://www.eaie.org/blog/podcast-ellen-hazelkorn-university-rankings.html