Ranking - New Developments in Europe Gero Federkeil CHE – Centre for Higher Education Development The 3rd International Symposium on University Rankings Leiden, 6-7 February 2009

2 3rd Int. Symposium on University Rankings, Leiden, February 2009 Recent trends in 1.National rankings 2.International Rankings  European  Global Presentation

3 3rd Int. Symposium on University Rankings, Leiden, February 2009 I.National Rankings in Europe 14 countries

4 3rd Int. Symposium on University Rankings, Leiden, February 2009  Purpose of most national rankings: information for (prospective) students  Focus on teaching & learning in most rankings  Some specialised rankings: –e.g. CHE Rating: employability in Bachelor-programmes  Done by different types of institutions: –media (e.g. France, Italy, UK, Germany) –independent organisations (e.g. Perspektywy - Poland; CHE - Germany; studiekeuze123 - NL) I.National Rankings in Europe

5 3rd Int. Symposium on University Rankings, Leiden, February 2009  Growing demand for Europe-wide information about HEIs (European higher education area)  Rankings should refer to defined „markets“ (target groups, types of institutions, regions)  Regional extension of (originally) national CHE ranking: –Austria, Switzerland –Netherlands (2009: most universities) –individual institutions in other countries that are of special interest for German (speaking) students i.e. either programmes in German language (e.g. University Babes-Bolyai Cluj; Semmelweis University – medicine) substantial percentage of German students II. International Rankings: European

6 3rd Int. Symposium on University Rankings, Leiden, February 2009  Purpose: information for mobile European Master- / PhD-students  Focus on MA-/PhD-programmes & research  According to basic CHE approach: –field-based –multi-dimensional –group approach, no league table  European ranking: indicator-based pre-selection of universities –bibliometric analysis –participation in Marie-Curie-programme –international students II. CHE European Excellence Ranking

7 3rd Int. Symposium on University Rankings, Leiden, February 2009  first cyle 2008: mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology II. CHE European Excellence Ranking inclusion: disproportional to countries

8 3rd Int. Symposium on University Rankings, Leiden, February 2009 Empirical argument in favour of field-based rankings: Only a few universities were ranked top in all of the four fields ! II. CHE European Excellence Ranking

9 3rd Int. Symposium on University Rankings, Leiden, February 2009  Increasing dynamics to develop a broad European ranking  Alternative to global rankings that –are biased against other fields than the (bio-medical) sciences –are biased against non-English-speaking countries –are exclusively focussing on research (Shanghai ranking) –have severe problems with regard to validity / reliability (THES ranking)  Pushed forward by French initiative during French EU presidency  Conference in November 2008 II. Recent Trends in Europe

10 3rd Int. Symposium on University Rankings, Leiden, February 2009  December 2009: Call for Tender by European Commission: „Design and testing the feasibility of a Multi-dimensional Global University Ranking”  Main elements: –global ranking –field based rankings (business, engineering) & institutional ranking –multi-dimensional approach (teaching& learning, research, internationalisation, community outreach) –all levels of education (Bachelor, Master, PhD) –universities plus non-university HEIs and non-university research institutions –broad range of target groups (students, teachers & researchers, university leaders, enterprises…) II. Recent Trends in Europe

11 3rd Int. Symposium on University Rankings, Leiden, February 2009  Continuation of global rankings: –Broad rankings (THES, Shanghai) –Special rankings (Leiden Ranking, Ecoles des Mines)  Shanghai Jiatong Ranking: Announcement of first field-based rankings for autumn (chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer science and engineering and economics) II. Global Trends

12 3rd Int. Symposium on University Rankings, Leiden, February 2009  International Ranking Experts Group (IREG) founded in 2004 in Washington, D.C.  Initiated by UNESCO-CEPES and IHEP- Institute for Higher Education Policy (Washington, D.C.)  Platform for exchange between 1.people/institutions who are doing rankings and 2.people/institutions that are doing research on rankings  2006: „Berlin Principles on Ranking of Higher Education Institutions”: guidelines for good ranking practice II. Global Trends: IREG

13 3rd Int. Symposium on University Rankings, Leiden, February 2009  2008: Re-organisation of IREG –“Observatory on Academic Rankings and Excellence” –more formal structure; membership organisation –acceptance of Berlin Principles will be membership criterion for institutions –regular open conferences  4rth IREG Conference will be held in June 2009 in Astana, Kazakhstan II. Global Trends: IREG

14 3rd Int. Symposium on University Rankings, Leiden, February 2009 Limitations to the extension of rankings ?

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