When it comes to choosing an institution to pursue an international education, applicants consider many quantifiable factors such as the safety of the country to be visited, funding and staffing, student life and engagement, weather , employment opportunities during studies, industrial links, excellence in specialization, faculty diversity, influence of research, etc. However, the ranking of universities is an important factor to consider.
University rankings were pioneered in the 1980s when countries began using indicators, such as academic reputation, admissions selections, academic achievement and financial resources, to demonstrate and rank the quality of education providers. ‘education.
With increasing competition in the global economy and the growth in the number of students traveling abroad to pursue higher education, ranking universities globally was the next step.
This blog is about how these university rankings work. We consider two factors, namely
1. How are universities ranked?
2. Are these rankings important?
How are universities ranked?
Here is an overview of some of the most popular rankings with their ranking criteria:
1. The QS World University Rankings is the most consulted university ranking in the world. It was produced by Quacquarelli Symonds and has published rankings annually since 2004. The QS World University Rankings continues to boast an exceptionally reconcilable methodological framework, coupled with the use of six simple measures that effectively capture the performance of a university.
Thus, universities are evaluated according to the following six parameters:
i) Academic reputation (20%)
ii) Employer reputation (10%)
iii) Faculty/student ratio (20%)
iv) Citations by faculty (20%)
v) Ratio of international professors
vi) Ratio of international students (5% each)
2. The Times Higher Education World University Rankings encompasses over 1,600 universities located in 99 destinations, making it an important and one of the most diverse university rankings. It uses 13 carefully assessed performance indicators, which measure an institution’s performance in four areas. Rankings are trusted by students, scholars, universities, and industry leaders to understand the quality of research and its influence that sets an institution apart.
Some of these parameters are:
1. Education
2. Research
3. Quotes
4. International perspectives
5. Industry Income
3. The Academic Ranking of World Universities, also known as the Shanghai Ranking, is one of the annual publications of world university rankings. ARWU is considered one of the three most influential and widely watched university rankings, alongside the QS World University Rankings and the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. It ranks over 2000 universities and finally publishes the top 1000. Their parameters include:
i) The number of former Nobel Prize and Fields Medal winners
ii) The number of employees who have won Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals
iii) The number of highly cited researchers selected by Clarivate Analytics
iv) The number of articles published in the journals Nature and Science
v) The number of articles indexed in the Science Citation Index – Expanded and Social Sciences Citation Index
vi) Academic performance per capita of a university
Are these rankings important?
Rankings from various sources like the ones mentioned above come in handy for students researching their study destination and wanting to assess an institution’s strengths. From recruiters to government, everyone uses these rankings to become aware of their position in this increasingly competitive market. Magazines, newspapers, websites, governments, and academics believe it is best to evaluate not only the whole institution, but also programs, departments, and schools. This helps students to choose their institution wishing to take into account specific criteria.
Employability and graduate rankings are a good starting point to learn more about universities and colleges with a focus on providing employment opportunities for learners. There is a need to balance on- and off-campus experiences, to seek a diverse environment in the company of strong international involvement and expert faculty.
The overall recognition of a university is very consistent. However, it is equally important to find the emotional support of an institute, to get your hands on a faculty that cares about your growth and to have peers who share your passion.
For further assistance or questions, students can contact us, Edwise International, and take advantage of our wide range of student services in destinations like Universities in Canada, study in canada,
study in uk, study in the United States, Study in Ireland, study in australia, study in new zealand, study in singapore and many other countries.
