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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 CIEP, 18-20 June 2006. Lexus-Nexus index on rankings. The rankings business. A ranking of league tables September 10, 2005. outline of the presentation.

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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 CIEP, 18-20 June 2006

  2. Lexus-Nexus index on rankings

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

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

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

  6. typology of rankings: what does it apply to? • entire institution or specific program • gives a global score or measures several dimensions separately • research or teaching / learning

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

  8. 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 (IA, IB, IC and ID linking the international dimension to the type of institution conducting the ranking)

  9. ranking systems in 2006

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

  11. a thin line between love and hate

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

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

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

  15. boycotts

  16. boycotts • Asiaweek • US News and World Report • McLeans

  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 they measure quality? • quality a moving target; Illusive definition • mutlidimensional construct; unidimensional score (subjective weights to indicators) • theoretical justification of measures and methodology • empirical support for indicators

  20. other shortcomings • methodological flaws • lesser emphasis on outcome indicators • few meaningful indicators to assess teaching quality • one size fits all: general disregard for non-research universities and non-university institutions • encourages universities to adjust method of data reporting

  21. and the winner is …

  22. the Anglo-Saxon factor

  23. THES 60 out of top 100 51 31 3 12 1 3 2 2 SJTU 68 of top 100 53 11 4 US UK Canada Australia N.Z. HK Singapore India 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 • France • Colombia

  31. conclusion: divisive or helpful?

  32. conclusion: divisive or helpful?

  33. 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

  34. principles of an appropriate ranking instrument • 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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