Rankings and Accountability in Higher Education : Uses and Misuses

Abstract

It brings together both promoters and opposers of rankings, to reflect the wide range of views that exist in the higher education community on this highly controversial topic. If learners, institutions and policy-makers are to be responsible users of ranking data and league table lists, it is vital that those compiling them make perfectly clear what criteria they are using to devise them, how they have weighted these criteria, and why they made these choices. It is hoped that this information will enable stakeholders to take informed decisions on higher education institutions.