Critical analysis of universities and research institutes’ ranking systems

Document Type : Research paper

Author

PhD in Knowledge and Information Science; Assistant Professor; Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences; Allameh Tabataba’i University; Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Purpose: Using the evaluation standards and procedures used by the global ranking systems, the study's primary goal is to offer recommendations for improving the effectiveness of the ranking systems for universities and research institutions.
Methodology: A comparative study technique was utilized to examine four international ranking systems and the ISC in order to determine the evaluation metrics and how universities and research institutions are ranked. Then, a critical analysis was applied and recommendations were given in the area of evaluation indicators and ranking processes of universities and research institutes based on the indicators and ranking processes of the ISC. The chosen indicators were validated by 10 specialists in the domains of scientometrics, webometrics, information science, and epistemology.
Findings: Based on the indicators of the country, primary organization, affiliation, starting point of the activity, primary criteria, data sources, evaluation criteria, extent of coverage, and field of activity, the rating systems were examined. The study's findings revealed that most systems' primary objectives are to assist students in selecting a university and offer recommendations to institutions on how to enhance their operations. The standards of research and education are given particular priority in these systems. Most systems use registration systems and surveys, self-reports, and legitimate databases as their data sources.
Conclusion: The ISC should continue its activities in a private and revenue-generating manner, according to the study's findings, and its goals should be amended. Based on the goals, the primary procedure and criteria should also be in place. It has to be substantially changed.

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