Doha: Qatar University (QU) hosted QS Rankings Session last Thursday which discussed the world rankings and rating systems and the various criteria by which universities are ranked at the international and regional level.
The session, which was part of the programme of the 3-day QS MAPLE Conference held on May 5-7, also looked at performance by universities in Asia, Gulf and Middle East and African universities in terms of academic reputation, employer reputation, citations, international faculty and international students. It was also announced that the QS Arab Rankings will be published on June 10.
A presentation by John O’Leary, member of the Executive Board, QS World University Rankings detailed survey results of the Big 3 rankings agencies – QS MAPLE, ARWU and Times Higher Education and highlighted rankings challenges that included research quality, teaching quality, graduate employability, internationalization, graduate output, inclusion and infrastructure. O’Leary also drew focus on the issue of citations in Arabic.
Following was a session led by Dr Kevin Downing, Chair of QS-MAPLE International Academic Advisory Committee and Secretary to Council and Court & Director, Knowledge, Enterprise and Analysis of City University of Hong Kong.
In his presentation entitles “Rankings : Catalyst or Cancer”, Dr Downing noted that ranking had become a commercial enterprise for universities and that there were mixed feelings on the issue as to its merit or necessity.
The Peninsula
