Negative effects of quest for university ranking
A LOT has been said lately about the obsession with university ranking. This pursuit of ranking has highlighted the sad state of the research culture in our institutions of higher learning.
During the 1970s and ’80s, our universities produced world-class graduates who made the country proud. Since then, due to many flip-flop policies by inexperienced, incompetent and short sighted policy makers, the line between quality and quantity has been blurred.
Lately, our universities have been jumping onto the ranking bandwagon to attract local and international students.
One important criterion used in university ranking is the number of publications in journals. Academics are put under tremendous pressure to publish, resulting in the publication of substandard research papers, which only serve to add to the quantity to boost ranking. Much of the research done are purely academic in nature and would never get to be translated into worthwhile applications.
The presence of predatory journals has also made it easier for academics to publish indiscriminately when they are unable to get their work included in reputable journals.
The number of professors in a university is also one of the factors used by ranking agents. This has contributed to the culture of appointing back-door professors in private universities.
Imagine the quality of research coming from these back-door professors. This is the sad state of research we are seeing now in the name of ranking.
If newly-minted professors have not given their professorial lecture to the public upon appointment to showcase their achievement, should they be considered in the ranking?
Private universities are encouraging their staff to get involved in research but with meagre or no funding at all. Moreover, lecturers are burdened with their heavy teaching load and can hardly find the time to get involved in research.
Student learning time is stipulated as a requirement by accreditation bodies but, unfortunately, preparation time for lectures is not mentioned anywhere. As such, there is not enough time within the working hours for lecturers to carry out their academic work, what more finding time to do research.
Getting ranked has become the trump card for universities in their marketing strategies. Many newer but good universities that do not make it into the ranking list have to suffer in silence with low student intakes.
The public are also confused and misled by the current ranking euphoria that seem to suggest that if a university is not ranked, it is not worth considering.
As a parent, I would not insist on my children enrolling in a top ranking university but rather in one that offers niche courses which match their interest.
DR YAGASENA APPANNAH Ipoh