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The Gap at the Top: Real Concern or Red Herring? Stephen Tallman E. Claiborne Robins Distinguished Professor
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The Rankings Gap Does Exist QS World University Rankings Top 200 /2013 show: Times Higher Education World University 13 Emerging Market nation universities 28 Emerging Market nation universities 10 BRICS nation universities Rankings 2013-14 Top 200 include: 3 BRICS nation universities
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And is NOT Evenly Distributed THE: Brazil – 0 in top 200; 2 in the 200-400 range Russia – 1 in the 200-400 range (plus some high-ranked specialist institutes) India – 5 in 200-400 (including 4 IIT) China – 2 in top 200; 8 in 200-400 South Africa – 1 in top 200
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BRIC National Planning Brazil: “13 th ranked producer of new knowledge” Russia: 5 in the top 100 by 2020 – Putin India: “We must play the same game” China: Huge resources and a state-backed drive to build world class universities
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but…BRIC Outcomes Grads of the top 10-15 BRIC institutions are the equal of grads from the US top 20, even if their schools are not in the top world rankings. & The returns to university educations in this group of countries are increasing (although at different rates) -Carnoy et al.
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1. Are the BRICs and other emerging market nations doing the right thing, but failing to gain recognition? Leading to: 2. Is the game rigged? 3. How can we do things right? So....Three Questions Emerge
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THE Criteria Research – 30% Citations – 30% Learning environment – 30% Undergrad teaching related – 25.5% Reputation & PhD – 4.5% Internationalism – 7.5% Industry research ties – 2.5% = Total research related – 74.5%
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Doing Things Right: Climbing the League Tables Increase research output – time & money Increase citations in Web of Science [English language] journals Bring in foreign students & faculty and ‘promote the brand’ Hire foreign or foreign-trained faculty and encourage and support research scholarship
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The Star System in Action Mk1
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BUT … What does this do, anyway? Increases the cost of the educational system while targeting the elite schools Pulls the high potential faculty out of the classroom, especially the u/g classroom Investing in researchers generally leads to shorting teachers Importing stars devours budgets
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The Star System in Action Mk2
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1.Are the league tables a distraction, suggesting that national priorities are being shaped by publicity demands? And further: 2. Does the game matter? 3. What IS the right thing to do? So....Three Alternative Questions?
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THE Criteria: Doing the Wrong Thing? Research – 30% Citations – 30% Learning environment – 30% Undergrad teaching related – 25.5% Reputation & PhD – 4.5% Internationalism – 7.5% Industry research ties – 2.5% = Total research related – 74.5%
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Doing the Right Thing: Indigenous Development of HE Building more LOCALLY high-quality undergraduate programs, especially STEM programs, economics, IT, other development-oriented programs Economic and institutional development Individual investment and payoff High quality technical and practical education German system US community colleges Research by and for local context as an emergent skill
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Example: US Economics Educators Developmental Approach Helping foreign educators to teach market economics Focus on widespread understanding of basics Desired outcome of widespread economic literacy (ability to understand and apply concepts) Organic emergence of research scholarship
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Innovation: In and Beyond the Universities Raising productivity and rewards in the economy – privatize both costs and benefits of education at all levels Cultural change – respect for the craftsman & entrepreneur Educational change – Fundamental research is mobile; focus on exploitative research & learning skills Education and training for industry needs Apprenticeships and work-study programs Fewer overeducated, undertrained, under-employed grads (hundreds of thousands of Indian & Chinese ‘engineers’? Already bloated government sectors?)
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Universities: Going Beyond the League Tables Mass education matters, especially in BRICs Employment matters, especially in BRICs Innovation matters, but is not the same as “scholarly research” If creating a few elite research institutions distract from societal goals, then rankings are - Perhaps not just red herrings but poison bait!
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Thank You Stephen Tallman E. Claiborne Robins Distinguished Professor
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