What do world university rankings really mean?

Over the last few decades, schools and universities from all over the world have been a part of a ranking obsession. Some rankings are state-sponsored and official, whereas some of the most famous education rankings - eg. Times Higher Education (THE) magazine's World University Rankings or Shanghai Rankings - are unofficial.

Are rankings a good measure of quality?

But do rankings really tell us anything substantive about the quality of the universities? Are they incentivising universities to improve or actually invite cynical 'gaming' of the system?

Ranking is a way to quantify qualities such as 'excellence' and 'world class', and remains an integral part of a student's decision making in university selection. Proponents of rankings would argue that rankings are necessary for ensuring that universities do not rest on their laurels and become complacent.

On the other hand, universities change what they value and how they operate, knowing it will affect rankings.

As administrators pore over the newest release of university rankings, agents and students would do well to bear in mind that whilst rankings are helpful for sifting through what feels like an unbearable amount of information from potential schools, they should not be the be-all-and-end-all of school selection.

Source: The Conversation

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Does cost of studying abroad affect parents' perception of educational quality?

You get what you pay for. According to the results of a recent survey, it appears that this old maxim still applies in the international education sector.

The survey interviewed 4,500 parents from 15 countries regarding their views on their children's education. Parents perceived the US to offer the highest quality education in the world, followed by UK, Germany, Australia and Japan. Cost-wise, these countries are also the most expensive study destinations in the world, which led commentators to identify a broad correlation in perception between cost and quality in education. (Or parents are just more willing to fork out for the perceived quality.)

89% of parents surveyed said they wanted their children to go to university, and 74% said they would consider sending their children abroad for a better university education.

Indonesian parents are keenest on sending their children abroad, with 92% in favour of an overseas education for their children. 88% of Malaysians and 87% of parents from Turkey echo this sentiment.

Why study abroad?

Obtaining foreign language skills are perceived as the main benefit of studying abroad, followed by the opportunity to gain international experience (Australia offers post study work rights which allows students to stay on after graduation and gain work experience for a few years) and as a rite of passage for children to become more independent.

International experience is one of the main benefits parents believe studying abroad can provide

Hence, while cost is an important factor for some, parents are accepting of the fact that 'prestigious' universities may cost more.

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Source: ICEF Monitor