Ranking one university over another is akin to comparing apples and oranges, argues Chris Brink. Brink contends that university rankings rarely represent reality and that they are normative, rather than descriptive, measures of success. University rankings are often based on often arbitrary or incomparable metrics, he argues, but they continue to influence public perception and student recruitment, which in turn drives some universities to become rank-chasing machines. However, Brink states that the “tide is beginning to turn,” as some institutions are valuing alternatives to the traditional ranking mechanism, prioritizing expert opinions over rankings, and even withdrawing from ranking reports altogether.
University World News
