Malcolm Grant, president and provost, University College London discusses the idea that the excellence of a university should not be defined by leagues tables.
2. University College London London’s Global University Building a world-class university THE London 30 September 2010 Differentiation, not imitation
3. University College London The rubric . . . Don’t allow the idea of a world-class university to be defined by league tables. That way lies uniformity and monotony. Diversity is one of the tertiary sector’s greatest strengths, and it is a quality beyond the capacity of any league table to measure. Building on diversity is a fundamental responsibility of autonomous self-governance. London’s Global University
4. University College London Main themes What is a university? What is a world-class university? The shortcomings of global league tables Daring for diversity The responsibilities that flow from autonomous self-governance Adapting leadership to mission London’s Global University
5. University College London The nature of a university Newman and the liberal arts Humboldt and advancement of knowledge through research Newman: "If its object were scientific and philosophical discovery, I do not see why a University should have students“ The global reality of mass higher education London’s Global University
6. University College London The hallmarks of a world class university? London’s Global University a high concentration of talent (faculty and students), Jamil Salmi, The Challenge of establishing World-Class Universities World Bank 2009
7. University College London The hallmarks of a world class university? London’s Global University a high concentration of talent (faculty and students), abundant resources to offer a rich learning environment and to conduct advanced research, Jamil Salmi, The Challenge of establishing World-Class Universities World Bank 2009
8. University College London The hallmarks of a world class university? London’s Global University a high concentration of talent (faculty and students), abundant resources to offer a rich learning environment and to conduct advanced research, and (c) favorable governance features that encourage strategic vision, innovation, and flexibility and that enable institutions to make decisions and to manage resources without being encumbered by bureaucracy. Jamil Salmi, The Challenge of establishing World-Class Universities World Bank 2009
9. University College London UCL’s position in global rankings 2010 4 QS 13 Global Universities Ranking 17 Taiwan 21 Shanghai Jiao Tong 22 Times Higher Education 36 World’s High Ranking Universities 63 Webometrics 81 iCU London’s Global University
10. University College London The league table problem What is the question? What are the indicators? What are the best proxies? How available and robust are the data to measure the proxies? How well can they bear the weight for valid inter-institutional and international comparison? How are they to be weighted? Handling outliers Moderating claims for outcomes London’s Global University
12. University College London The league table problem What is the question? What are the indicators? London’s Global University
13. University College London The league table problem What is the question? What are the indicators? What are the best proxies? London’s Global University
14. University College London The league table problem What is the question? What are the indicators? What are the best proxies? How available and robust are the data to measure the proxies? London’s Global University
15. University College London The league table problem What is the question? What are the indicators? What are the best proxies? How available and robust are the data to measure the proxies? How well can they bear the weight for valid inter-institutional and international comparison? London’s Global University
16. University College London The league table problem What is the question? What are the indicators? What are the best proxies? How available and robust are the data to measure the proxies? How well can they bear the weight for valid inter-institutional and international comparison? How are they to be weighted? London’s Global University
17. University College London The league table problem What is the question? What are the indicators? What are the best proxies? How available and robust are the data to measure the proxies? How well can they bear the weight for valid inter-institutional and international comparison? How are they to be weighted? Handling outliers London’s Global University
18. University College London The league table problem What is the question? What are the indicators? What are the best proxies? How available and robust are the data to measure the proxies? How well can they bear the weight for valid inter-institutional and international comparison? How are they to be weighted? Handling outliers Moderating claims for outcomes London’s Global University
19. University College London The potentially perverse consequences Can relative and comparative institutional performance ever be credibly captured by league tables? The risk of driving convergent behaviour The problem of instability and volatility The data gathering burden Risk of misuse as a performance indicator by: University councils Governments and funding agencies Commercial competition between league table publishers; Multi-rank; the RAE/REF London’s Global University
20. University College London The essential qualities of diversity Responsibility of autonomy Mission definition and refinement Values: meritocracy; open institutions; focus on excellence Geography Competition and collaboration Fortune Self-confidence London’s Global University
21. University College London UCL priorities Mission: multi-disciplinary; research-led Focus: develop postgraduate provision; major emphasis on health Geography: London and globalism; international campuses Competition and collaboration: the UCL-Yale collaborative The social responsibility of universities Generating new interdisciplinary initiatives – the Grand Research Challenges Programme Founding a new high school Compulsory second language Liberal arts programme London’s Global University
