vr(n) dvc(r) the impact of university rankings on scientifically peripheral countries shanghai, 19...

VR(N)

DVC(R)

The impact of university rankings on

scientifically peripheral countries

Shanghai, 19 October 2010

Arnold van (Research), Stellenbosch University J. Christoff Pauw, Coordinator: South-South Networks, Stellenbosch

University

Location

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Tertiary Education

© Copyright 2006 SASI Group (University of Sheffield) and Mark Newman (University of Michigan)

Key statistics University of Stellenbosch

• 36% Postgraduates• 130 Postdoctoral Fellows• 850 Academic Staff• 3 National Centers of Excellence• 14 Endowed Research Chairs• 30 % of university income from

research• Highest National research productivity• 12 % of all accredited R&D papers in

SA

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Summary

• Concept of a 21st century university in Africa

• Global league tables – the only indicator of quality?

• Universities in a developing context

• Conclusions

a 21st century University in Africa

• College ?

• Institute ?

• School ?

Universities in a developing context

8Ref. Mayur Amin Elsevier

Universities in a developing context - quesQQ

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Questions from a peripheral university

• Rankings• Provision of information to the users?• Brand benefit to highly ranked

providers?

• Useful comparative information

• Damaging pathologies encouraged?

• Other options to playing the “ranking game”?

Useful Information

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Useful Information SU competency map

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African Collaboration database

Damaging pathologies – mission drift

Poverty/education correlation *

13*Armstrong, Lekezwa and Siebrits, Poverty in South Africa: a profile based on recent household surveys

UKWANDARural health platform

Other options

• Peer reviewed: - Shanghai, THE, etc

• Bibliometric: - Leiden listsCitation impact* # 415 Internationally# 2 in SA

*CWTS field-normalized citation impact indicator

• No ranking holistically reflects TeachingDistinct Competencies in ResearchCommunity Engagement – Local relevance

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Conclusions

• Differentiated fine structured information

• One size does not fit all• Reflect all aspects of the

knowledge business

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