The Future of University Rankings:
Europe in a Global Context

Key Speakers

Mr. Jordi Curell, Director, Lifelong Learning: Higher Education and International Affairs, DG EAC, European Commission
Mr. Gero Federkeil, Head of Rankings, CHE – Centre for Educational Development; Vice President, The Observatory on Academic Ranking and Excellence
Mr. Phil Baty, Deputy Editor, Times Higher Education, and Editor of Times Higher Education World University Rankings, UK
Mr. Waldemar Siwiński, Vice President, IREG Observatory on Academic Ranking and Excellence; President, Polish Education Foundation “Perspektywy”
Prof. Andrés Carrión García, Director, Centre For Quality And Change Management, Valencia University Of Technology
Dr. Karsten Krueger, Project Manager of the Ranking Project of the CYD Foundation, Spain

The concept of university rankings is rapidly becoming one of the most important tools used by both students and academic professionals across the world. Currently, there are 33 countries which possess some form of rankings system, and the field continues to grow both domestically and internationally. Universities use them to define their performance, professional reputation and status, whilst students use them to choose their future place of study and research. What originated as a consumer product aimed at undergraduate domestic students has now become both a manifestation and a driver of global competition and a battle for excellence in itself.

As the higher education sector is recognised as one of the key drivers of economic growth, the productivity, quality and the status of research produced by institutions can be used as a vital indicator. Recognising the need for greater clarity, the European Commission has launched its own initiatives (U-Multirank and U-Map) that are independent from public authorities and universities. Its aim is the design and testing of a new multidimensional university ranking system, one with a more global outreach. It is hoped that a comprehensive ranking system will assist policymakers in developing longer term strategies as part of the broader Higher Education modernisation agenda.

This timely international symposium will analyse the latest developments in and future outlook for the U-Multirank initiative and also tackle in a global context some of the key themes and outcomes from the 4th Annual Symposium on University Rankings held in April. Participants will assess the challenges that lie ahead in creating and maintaining comprehensive and user-friendly systems for ranking universities. The symposium offers an invaluable opportunity to discuss the dynamics between international rankings and national initiatives developed in various countries, collaborate and communicate strategies and share best practices.

Public Policy Exchange welcomes the participation of all key partners, responsible authorities and stakeholders. The symposium will support the exchange of ideas and encourage delegates to engage in thought-provoking topical debate.

Delegates will:

  • Analyse and discuss the mechanisms for defining performance, professional reputation and status of universities through user-friendly rankings
  • Consider how to facilitate student and staff participation and access to information
  • Explore challenges to existing systems in rankings, data collection and indicators
  • Share best practices from the implementation of the rankings system nationally and internationally

Programme

09:00 Registration and Morning Refreshments
10:00 Chair’s Welcome and Opening Remarks

Prof. Andrés Carrión García Director, Centre for Quality and Change Management, Valencia University of Technology, Spain (confirmed)
10:10 Session One:
The Future of U-Multirank and International Rankings– Implementation Challenges and Perspectives
  • Benchmarking European and Global Universities – From European into a Global Tool
  • Future Developments and Priorities
  • New trends in international rankings
  • The IREG Ranking Audit
Speakers:
Mr. Jordi Curell, Director, Lifelong Learning: Higher Education and International Affairs, DG EAC, European Commission (confirmed)
Mr. Gero Federkeil, Head of Rankings, CHE – Centre for Educational Development; Vice President, The Observatory on Academic Ranking and Excellence (confirmed)
10:50 First Round of Discussions
11:30 Morning Coffee Break
11:50 Session Two:
University Rankings – Facilitating Student Participation and Access to Services and Information
  • New Standards in International University Performance Comparisons – Lessons Learned
  • Linking National with Regional and International Rankings
  • Using Data through an Integrated Framework – Challenges and Opportunities
  • Promoting Rankings Nationally and Internationally
  • Recommendations
Speakers:
Mr. Phil Baty, Deputy Editor, Times Higher Education; Editor, Times Higher Education World University Rankings, UK (confirmed)
Mr. Waldemar Siwiński, Vice President, IREG Observatory on Academic Ranking and Excellence; President, The Polish Education Foundation “Perspektywy” (confirmed)
12:40 Second Round of Discussions
13:10 Networking Lunch
14:10 Session Three:
Creating Effective Data Systems and Indicators on University Rankings
  • Possible Relationships with Other International Data
  • Promoting Development and Harmonisation of Existing Data Institutions
  • Improving Data on Employment-Oriented Outcome Indicators
  • Field-Specific Data and Institutional Level Data
  • Regional Engagement and Knowledge Transfer
  • Recommendations
Speakers:
Prof. Andrés Carrión García Director, Centre for Quality and Change Management, Valencia University of Technology, Spain (confirmed)
15:00 Third Round of Discussions
15:30 Afternoon Coffee Break
15:45 Session Four:
Case Study – Implementing a Field-Based Ranking System in Europe
  • Best Practices and Lessons Learned
  • Bottom-Up and Top-Down Ranking Approaches
  • Developing Trust and Credibility
  • Recommendations
Speaker:
Dr. Karsten Krueger, Project Manager of the Ranking Project, CYD Foundation, Spain (confirmed)
16:15 Fourth Round of Discussions
16:45 Chair’s Summary and Closing Remarks
16:55 Networking Reception and Refreshments
17:30 Symposium Close

Who Should Attend?

  • Registrars and Senior University Administrators
  • Faculty Deans
  • University Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors
  • Rankings Agencies
  • Quality Assurance Institutes
  • Researchers
  • Academics
  • National Ministries for Education
  • International Organisations
  • Higher Education Organisations
  • Employer’s Organisations
  • Data Centres
  • Standardisation Organisations
  • Careers Services and Advisers
  • Admissions Bodies
  • Research Councils
  • Schools and FE Colleges
  • Funding Bodies
  • Local Authority Education Officers
  • Representatives of Industry and Commerce
  • Education Charities and NGOs
  • Lifelong Learning Practitioners
  • Equal Opportunities Officers
  • Access Officers
  • Disability Practitioners
  • Campaigning Organisations
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Wednesday 27th June 2012
Stanhope Hotel, Brussels

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“As part of Europe's strategy for jobs and growth, the European Commission today presented a reform strategy to boost graduate numbers, improve teaching quality and maximise what higher education can do to help the EU economy emerge stronger from the crisis. The strategy identifies priority areas where EU countries need to do more to achieve shared education objectives and sets out how the European Union can support their modernisation policies. EU-level initiatives will include university ranking which will better inform students about the courses which are best for them and an 'Erasmus for Masters' loan guarantee scheme for students taking a full degree course abroad.”
- European Commission Press Release, 11 September 2011
“IREG Observatory plans to undertake a responsibility in raising the quality and standards of university rankings [for institutional and program rankings] exactly taking into consideration the increasing importance of rankings among future students, and the fact that rankings can influence financial decisions of government bodies responsible for higher education. Concretely, IREG Observatory is finalizing a methodology and procedures for audit system of university rankings. The “IREG audit” will be carried out upon those producing rankings and assess their rankings against the highest methodology standards. Those rankings that will pass the IREG audit will be entitled to use “IREG Recognized” label. Such audits will become an important force to give both the public and academia confidence that higher education rankings are being conducted using high standards. The audit criteria of university rankings will be based foremost on the Berlin Principles on Ranking of Higher Education Institutions which were established by IREG in Berlin in 2006”
- Dr. Jan Sadlak, President of IREG Observatory, 12 April 2010