Are QS Rankings Reliable? Closer Analysis Say Otherwise
QS Rankings is one of the most popular and prominent global university ranking systems which has faced increasing scrutiny over their reliability and methodology. They have claimed to give an objective for the assessment of institutions across the world.
First, the heavy reliance on subjective indicators like
- Academic reputation with 40% and
- Employer reputation with 10% raises questions.
These indicators are often based on survey responses which are influenced by perceptions and biases rather than tangible performance metrics. The smaller universities often struggling with a motive to gain recognition, disadvantaged them in these rankings.
Second, QS's inclusion of faculty-to-student ratio is a significant metric of 20% which is criticized for failing to account for the quality of teaching. A low ratio does not correlate with better education and it heavily influences rankings.
Another issue related to this is the lack of transparency in data collection and processing. Critics argue that QS does not give sufficient details on how institutions submit their data by raising concerns about consistency and accuracy.
Finally, QS Rankings disproportionately emphasize research output with many more aspects like community impact. This focus sidelines institutions excelling in these areas which results in a narrow definition of institutional success.
QS vs other rankings
It can be said that Another 10% of the weightage goes to the international student ratio and international teachers ratio which allows private universities which charge usurous fees from many public institutions with longstanding repute on the rankings. Another 5% is assigned to the “International Research Network”, which is owned by QS. Institutions awarded with high research scores by QS seem to struggle on other rankings and research indices.
In response to this, Bizzozero said: “Discrepancies in rankings across different indices such as QS, NIRF, and the Nature Index can be attributed to differences in methodology and the specific indicators each ranking evaluates. The world university QS rankings assess institutions on multiple dimensions, which cover academic reputation, employer perception, internationalization, and research impact.
$100 ‘token of appreciation’
According to another email severely undermines the claims of fairness and probity. Former Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi director and current group-VC of Birla Institute of Technology & Science Pilani campuses, V Ramgopal Rao posted an email on the professional networking site, LinkedIn, that appears to do exactly what QS says it prohibits – “canvassing”.
The email is purportedly from The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology’s (KAIST) Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering department which requests the recipient to participate in a "brief survey to gather insights from esteemed professors like yourself".
India's 2024 higher education policy has emphasized on internationalization, digital transformation, and inclusivity under NEP 2020. Key initiatives for this cover:
- The National Digital University
- Joint degrees with global institutions
- Fast-track degree programs and
- A 5+3+3+4 academic structure.
The policy has a motive to increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio to 50% by 2035 by increasing accessibility and innovation.
Indian University Global Rankings are widely used with their methodological flaws suggesting that they should be interpreted carefully. Students and stakeholders are advised to look into all the alternative sources and institutional priorities beyond what rankings portray.
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