World University Rankings :Beneath the Surface World University Rankings Presented by: Ben Sowter, Head of Research, QS Date: 8 July 2008 Sponsored by


Objectives :Objectives 2008 Rankings Progress update Characteristics of a highly ranked university National system strength 2 Copyright © 2008 QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (www.qsnetwork.com)


Session Flow :Session Flow Copyright © 2008 QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (www.qsnetwork.com) 3


Peer Review Underway :Peer Review Underway Mailing to previous respondents 5,482 valid email addresses 568 hard bounce backs 902 responses so far 18.4% response rate World Scientific and IBIS emails to be dispatched over the next two weeks Copyright © 2008 QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (www.qsnetwork.com) 4


2008 Responses by Job Function :2008 Responses by Job Function Copyright © 2008 QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (www.qsnetwork.com) 5


Other Progress :Other Progress Strong return on request for employer data Deadline for data submissions from universities approaching: 15th July Scopus data received Over 1,000 additional universities included in the evaluation exercise Institution distribution of peer review questionnaire under development Global Student Survey design underway New indicators in 2009/2010? Copyright © 2008 QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (www.qsnetwork.com) 6


Session Flow :Session Flow Copyright © 2008 QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (www.qsnetwork.com) 7


201 :201 Average age of a top 100 university Copyright © 2008 QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (www.qsnetwork.com) 8


92 :92 Average age of Asian institutions in the top 100 9 Copyright © 2008 QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (www.qsnetwork.com)


Average age of the top 100 :Average age of the top 100 Copyright © 2008 QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (www.qsnetwork.com) 10


Average age of the top 100 :Average age of the top 100 Copyright © 2008 QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (www.qsnetwork.com) 11


2,386 :2,386 Average number of faculty in a top 100 university 12 Copyright © 2008 QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (www.qsnetwork.com)


Average number of faculty staff :Average number of faculty staff Copyright © 2008 QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (www.qsnetwork.com) 13


22,547 :22,547 Average number of faculty in a top 100 university 14 Copyright © 2008 QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (www.qsnetwork.com)


Number of students (FTE) :Number of students (FTE) Copyright © 2008 QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (www.qsnetwork.com) 15


Average number of students :Average number of students Copyright © 2008 QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (www.qsnetwork.com) 16


A world class university? :A world class university? Copyright © 2008 QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (www.qsnetwork.com) 17


Credits :Credits Tony Sheil, Research Policy & Strategy, Griffith University Strategic options for small nations and their institutions in response to world university rankings Presented at University of Iceland “Does size matter” conference 4-7 June 2008 www.congress.is/doessizematter2008/presentations/0F_1030_Sheil.ppt Copyright © 2008 QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (www.qsnetwork.com) 18


Session Flow :Session Flow Copyright © 2008 QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (www.qsnetwork.com) 19


Signals for system strength? :Signals for system strength? System Average performance of universities across the system Access Number of universities of requisite quality relative to population size Flagship Performance of “at least one” flagship university Economic Quality of system relative to economic strength Copyright © 2008 QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (www.qsnetwork.com) 20


It's not enough to have one world-class university. We need a system of complementary universities. You end up with something different than Stanford, but it's something very powerful. :It's not enough to have one world-class university. We need a system of complementary universities. You end up with something different than Stanford, but it's something very powerful. Robert Templin President, Virginia Center for Innovation and Technology Copyright © 2008 QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (www.qsnetwork.com) 21


Proposed Indicator 1 :Proposed Indicator 1 System Number of universities in top 500 Average position of those universities Copyright © 2008 QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (www.qsnetwork.com) 22


System: Results :System: Results Copyright © 2008 QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (www.qsnetwork.com) 23


The government remains committed towards the 50% target - it is a social and economic necessity and the continued rise that we are seeing in participation is encouraging :The government remains committed towards the 50% target - it is a social and economic necessity and the continued rise that we are seeing in participation is encouraging Bill Rammell Minister of State, Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education – United Kingdom Copyright © 2008 QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (www.qsnetwork.com) 24


Proposed Indicator 2 :Proposed Indicator 2 Access Number of universities in top 500 Population Population data from CIA World Factbook Copyright © 2008 QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (www.qsnetwork.com) 25


Access: Results :Access: Results Copyright © 2008 QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (www.qsnetwork.com) 26


To remain internationally competitive. Australia needs at least one world-class university. :To remain internationally competitive. Australia needs at least one world-class university. The Melbourne Agenda Copyright © 2008 QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (www.qsnetwork.com) 27


Proposed Indicator 3 :Proposed Indicator 3 Flagship Score based on position of top placed university Copyright © 2008 QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (www.qsnetwork.com) 28


Flagship: Results :Flagship: Results Copyright © 2008 QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (www.qsnetwork.com) 29


From a public policy perspective, the central question is whether obtaining flagship universities is the best route middle-income and developing countries should follow. :From a public policy perspective, the central question is whether obtaining flagship universities is the best route middle-income and developing countries should follow. Salvador Malo Director General, Center for the Assessment of Higher Education (CENEVAL) – Mexico Copyright © 2008 QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (www.qsnetwork.com) 30


Proposed Indicator 4 :Proposed Indicator 4 Economic Indexed score GDP per capita The indexed score awards a country 5 points for an institution in the top 100, 4 for those placed between 101 and 200 and so on. GDP data from CIA World Factbook Copyright © 2008 QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (www.qsnetwork.com) 31


Economic: Results :Economic: Results Copyright © 2008 QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (www.qsnetwork.com) 32


Correlation :Correlation Copyright © 2008 QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (www.qsnetwork.com) 33


Weighting? :Weighting? Weightings are subjective Higher weightings reflect emphasis on overall system strength and performance under tight financial constraint System – 30% Access – 20% Flagship – 20% Economic – 30% Copyright © 2008 QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (www.qsnetwork.com) 34


Composite Results :Composite Results Copyright © 2008 QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (www.qsnetwork.com) 35


Composite Results :Composite Results Copyright © 2008 QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (www.qsnetwork.com) 36


Education is not about filling a pail, it’s about lighting a fire :Education is not about filling a pail, it’s about lighting a fire WB Yeats 37 Copyright © 2008 QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (www.qsnetwork.com)


Thank You :Ben Sowter ben@qsnetwork.com Presentation slides available on www.topuniversities.com/professional/seminars/downloads Thank You