Universities ‘should be ranked on their value to society’

UNIVERSITIES should justify their worth in a ranking system that assesses their value to society to counteract the “corrosive narrative” they are “disconnected ivory towers”, a report said.

An assessment system recognising societal benefits may reassure students that they are getting their money’s worth, and incentivise institutions to do more for communities, university representatives suggested.

Universities should be graded in global league tables on the proportion of their negotiable budget spent on activities for social benefit, as well as on their carbon footprint, according to a report from King’s College London, the University of Chicago and the University of Melbourne.

Engagement should be assessed by support for under-represented groups, measured by the proportion of pre-university students involved in “access” programmes, they said.

The report said: “Many universities are characterised as disconnected ivory towers, with many people questioning whether universities are contributing their fair share.”

Prof Jonathan Grant, vice president and vice principal (service) at KCL, said: “At a time when universities in many countries are seeking support from governments and taxpayers to mitigate the impacts of Covid-19, there is a real need for the higher education sector to better demonstrate the benefits it brings to society. A system that recognises these benefits would reassure students that they are getting value for money, as well as incentivising institutions to do more for communities and societies around the world.”

But Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union, said: “Universities are about so much more than rankings that focus on things like graduate earnings, and a wider recognition of their work and impact should be encouraged. The obsession with chasing rankings of any stripe is a result and failure of attempts to let the market drive higher education.”