Times Higher Ranking under fire

The World University Ranking of the British Times Higher Education Supplement (THES) produces a worldwide ranking of 200 universities based on five qualitative and quantitative indicators. The ranking list was compiled for the first time in 2004. Altogether, analysis covered over 600 universities, which were identified by scientific experts. In addition to a global ranking, rankings by scientific fields were made. Unlike the Shanghai ranking list, the THES ranking list includes a globally executed Peer Review: about 9000 academics from five continents have been asked to nominate leading universities in the fields in which they are considered experts. THE tries to explain in a positive way why a change is needed:
http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=411312&c=1
In fact the problem is always the DATA. Long time before Phil Baty's statement about the errors and mistakes in the THE ranking in the ZEIT we knew that rankings are on fire. Some likes them some hate them, but we have to leave with them. The swiss initiative to understand how rankings work may halb to create an understanding of "live together". We still know that rankings have to be improved as HE has to be changed as well. Misunderstnading, critisisms, errors and discussions are the engings of this. We have to deal with this new situation as the swiss did it. We have to live with rankings so we have to inform, use and improve....

New RANKING website for CH universties

A new initiative in Schwitzerland tries to explain and promote rankings. The website gives a good overview about the well knowned rankings like shanghai or Times Higher. The web site looks also behing the results and explain the different methodologies and intentions. A good initiative to watch closer the enemy RANKING.

recent publication on college rankings

A pritty good report and overview related to rankings.
David Webster’s definition of “academic quality rankings.” For Webster, an academic
quality ranking system has two components:
1. It must be arranged according to some criterion or set of criteria
which the compiler(s) of the list believed measured or reflected academic
quality.
2. It must be a list of the best colleges, universities, or departments
in a field of study, in numerical order according to their supposed
quality, with each school or department having its own individual
rank, not just lumped together with other schools into a handful of
quality classes, groups, or levels
read more:
http://www.centerforcollegeaffordability.org/uploads/College_Rankings_History.pdf

Project Meeting in Torino

The E3M project team had a meeting last week discussing the indicators which were developed within the subroups of the project. We defined tree different dimensions of the third mission: social engagement, continuing education and technology transfer and innovation. We have "nominated" around 100 indicators related to these fields. We will use the Delphi method to reduce the number of indicators and ask external experts about their opinion. This is the upocommig task for the next months. We all are looking forward to the different views and opinions....

Online University Ranking

Geteducated.com published a ranking on online colleges
http://www.geteducated.com/online-college-ratings-and-rankings/

Bill Clinton about university services

"As part of Clinton Global Initiative University, the former president said he is trying to instill the idea "that doing public service as a private citizen should be a part of the mission of every college and university in the country and should be a part of the mission of every citizen who leaves them." Find the full article here

MODERMODERN Conference Announcement “Assuring the quality of internationalisation” Amsterdam, 7 May 2010

The MODERN conference “Assuring the quality of internationalisation” is the third in a series of five
conferences organised by the MODERN European platform in higher education modernisation.
MODERN is a three-year EU-funded structural network project in the EU Lifelong Learning Programme,
developed under the leadership of ESMU, in a consortium with 9 core partners, 28 associate partner
European associations and academic providers of higher education management (HEM) training
programmes.
For further information on the MODERN platform and the online registration for the conference,
please consult the MODERN website: www.highereducationmanagement.eu

As internationalisation grows in importance in higher education and takes on a more mainstream role,
there is a growing expectation for universities to be able to define the added value of the
international dimension and measure the impact of internationalisation on the institutional mission.
Quality remains a controversial concept with a range of definitions and purposes – whether it is
equated with excellence, fitness for purpose, value for money or the ability to transform.