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League tables as policy instruments: The political economy of accountability in tertiary education

League tables as policy instruments: The political economy of accountability in tertiary education. Jamil Salmi and Alenoush Saroyan GUNI Conference Barcelona November 2006. Lexus-Nexus index on rankings. The rankings business. A ranking of league tables September 10, 2005.

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League tables as policy instruments: The political economy of accountability in tertiary education

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  1. League tables as policy instruments: The political economy of accountability in tertiary education Jamil Salmi and Alenoush Saroyan GUNI Conference Barcelona November 2006

  2. Lexus-Nexus index on rankings

  3. The rankings business A ranking of league tables September 10, 2005

  4. why proliferation of rankings? • increasingly complex tertiary education scene • thirst for information • attempt to give a simple answer to a complex question

  5. outline of the presentation • typology of rankings • a world of controversies • do rankings measure quality? • policy implications

  6. cluster of indicators in league tables as measures of quality • beginning characteristics • learning inputs- staff • learning inputs- resources • learning outputs • final outcomes • research • reputation

  7. typology of rankings:how is it done? • statistical indicators • produced by institutions • publicly available • survey of “stakeholders” • employers • professors • students • combination of both

  8. typology of rankings: what does it apply to? • entire institution or specific program • educational inputs • educational outputs (research, teaching / learning)

  9. who prepares the ranking? A = government agency (Ministry of Higher Education, Higher Education Commission, University Grants Council, etc.) B = independent organization / professional association / university C = newspaper / magazine / media D = accreditation agency I = International ranking

  10. ranking systems in 2006

  11. outline of the presentation • typology of rankings • a world of controversies

  12. a thin line between love and hate

  13. a thin line between love and hate • disagreement with principle

  14. a thin line between love and hate • disagreement with principle • criticism of methodology

  15. a thin line between love and hate • disagreement with principle • criticism of methodology • boycotts

  16. Asiaweek • US News and World Report • Maclean’s

  17. a thin line between love and hate • disagreement with principle • criticism of methodology • boycotts • court actions (New Zealand, Holland)

  18. outline of the presentation • typology of rankings • a world of controversies • do rankings measure quality?

  19. but do indicators measure quality? • quality a moving target; Illusive definition • multi-dimensional construct; unidimensional score • poor theoretical justification of measures and methodology • inadequate empirical support for indicators

  20. other shortcomings • methodological flaws • lesser emphasis on outcome indicators • few meaningful indicators to assess teaching and learning quality • one size fits all • potential to adjust method of data reporting

  21. and the winner is …

  22. the Anglo-Saxon factor

  23. the “English” factor in the 2005 rankings

  24. outline of the presentation • typology of rankings • a world of controversies • do rankings measure quality? • policy implications

  25. usefulness of rankings • for the Government • for the institutions • for the public

  26. government use of rankings • Pakistan case • promoting a culture of accurate and transparent information • promoting a culture of quality

  27. from the viewpoint of institutions • sensitive to factors that affect their rankings (benchmarking) • goal setting for strategic planning purposes • forming strategic partnerships • mergers

  28. applying public pressure • Provão

  29. applying public pressure • Provão • France

  30. applying public pressure • Provão / ENADE • France • Colombia

  31. conclusion: divisive or helpful?

  32. conclusion: divisive or helpful? • rankings are here to stay • useful for prospective students • useful in the absence of an established evaluation and/or accreditation system • useful for benchmarking, goal-setting and self-improvement purposes • useful to conduct a healthy debate on issues and challenges • useful to promote a culture of accountability

  33. principles of an appropriate ranking instrument • better to compare similar institutions • better to focus on program than on entire institution • better to rank by indicator than wholesale (Germany – Pakistan) • better to focus on outcomes/outputs/results rather than inputs (labor market outcomes, publications, patents) • better if used for self-improvement purposes • better to advertise results publicly than to keep them secret

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