University ranking is a global phenomenon with many different methodologies, but they all share the same goal: to promote universities by highlighting their reputation and research achievements. However, the ranking system has been widely criticized for its reliance on proxies such as research output and prestige as well as for ignoring other important areas like student experience and teaching quality. It is also a concern that rankings tend to reinforce inequalities between universities, favouring old, large, science-focused and English-speaking institutions from the Global North over those from the Global South and developing countries. The heavy use of bibliometric data further contributes to this trend, as universities with more highly cited research will rank higher, regardless of whether it is based on original research or not.
Nevertheless, the popularity of ranking systems has led to a high level of awareness among students, parents and prospective collaborators about their importance. This has led to universities taking steps to improve their positions in the ranking by launching campaigns and increasing funding to support their efforts. In other words, ranking has become a self-fulfilling prophecy where universities compete with each other to achieve a higher position in the ranking and to attract more potential students and researchers.
However, it is crucial to recognize that the ranking systems themselves have a political agenda. While some scholars have pointed to wider trends of marketization, managerialism and neoliberalism that have contributed to the ubiquity of university ranking, others argue that they conceal purposeful politics hidden behind the veneer of objectivity and are a tool for achieving particular societal outcomes.