Learning Objective
Learning Objective
Embedded Files
Understanding the Concept of University Rankings
Analyze the Relationship Between Rankings and Education Quality
Critically Evaluate the Impact of Rankings on Indonesian Higher Education
Learning Outcome
Learning Outcome
Students will be able to explain the concept and purpose of university ranking systems.
Students will be able to define the concept of "ranking management" and articulate how it creates a distortion in higher education priorities.
Students will be able to apply a critical lens to evaluate real cases and news headlines about Indonesian universities' ranking ambitions and their direct impact on students and academic communities.
Students will be able to evaluate the pros and cons of university ranking systems
What are university rankings?
University rankings are global measurement systems used to evaluate and compare higher education institutions across countries. Major ranking systems include the QS World University Rankings and Times Higher Education (THE), while Indonesia also has a national accreditation system.
University rankings generally assess various aspects of institutional performance, including academic excellence, research quality and output, faculty quality, and institutional reputation.
Source: TimesHigherEducation
University rankings evaluate institutions based on multiple factors that measure academic excellence and educational impact.
Source: GoodStats
Discussion on google group:
What conclusions can you draw from the ranking shown here?
Do you think the measurement system is reliable and fair?
What do you think about the impact on universities that aren’t included in the rankings?
In your opinion, do universities with high rankings necessarily have better quality of education?
What do you think? Share your thoughts here!
Global competition among higher education institutions encourages universities to strengthen their academic quality, research, facilities, internationalization, and industry engagement to enhance their reputation and competitiveness.
In Indonesia, the ambition to achieve World-Class University status has contributed to the transformation of universities into PTN-BH, which require significant financial independence.
To finance international-standard facilities and research and improve global rankings, part of the financial burden may ultimately be shifted to students through increased tuition fees (UKT). This creates a dilemma between pursuing global competitiveness and maintaining affordable and inclusive access to higher education.
Key among them is that the very idea of global university rankings is fundamentally flawed. It is simply not possible to produce a fair and credible global league table of universities given their multiple missions and their diverse social, economic and political contexts around the world.
Discussion:
What do you understand from those two quotes?
Isn't the ranking system designed to promote progress, rather than boost egos?
In your opinion, is this ranking system necessary for assessing quality, or is it simply a business mechanism designed to exploit universities in developing countries?
A balanced understanding of university rankings requires consideration of both their potential benefits and limitations. The following table presents the key advantages and limitations of university rankings.
Reputation can have a significant influence on institutional behavior, particularly when universities face public scrutiny or reputational pressure. This raises an important question: how should different stakeholders respond to such situations while maintaining accountability and protecting those who may be unfairly affected?
How should governments, universities, and students respond to reports like this in a balanced way promoting accountability while protecting individuals who may be unfairly affected?
Reflect and discuss! Should we focus on rankings or ignore them?
Reflect and discuss in pair
Make a conclusion statement about today learning topic!
📌 Assignment: Make an Infographic
📌 Assignment: Make an Infographic
Work in pairs (2 students per group) to create an infographic about the pros and cons of university rankings in Indonesian education.
Your infographic should:
Present the advantages and disadvantages of university rankings.
Include your arguments based on the Indonesian social context.
Support your arguments with relevant expert opinions or references.
Clearly cite the sources used in your infographic.
✍️ Short Reflection
✍️ Short Reflection
Write a 300–400 word reflection based on your learning and discussion about university rankings.
In your reflection, consider the following questions:
What have you learned about university rankings?
What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of university rankings for Indonesian education?
What is your position on the use of university rankings, and why?
📤 Submission
Submit your infographic and short reflection through the Google Form provided by your instructor. Make sure both files are submitted before the deadline.
Reference
Reference
Badiuzzaman MD (2025) Unpacking the metrics: a critical analysis of the 2025 QS World University Rankings using Australian university data. Front. Educ. 10:1619897. doi: 10.3389/feduc.2025.1619897
United Nations University (2023) Rethinking Quality: UNU-convened Experts Challenge the Harmful Influence of
Global University Rankings. https://unu.edu/press-release/rethinking-quality-unu-convened-experts-challenge-harmful-influence-global-university
European University Association. (2023, October 17). Key considerations for the use of rankings by higher education institutions. European University Association. The Things You Do to Know: An Introduction to the Pedagogy of Multiliteracies (Chapter outlining the four pedagogical orientations)
Hazelkorn, E., Loukkola, T., & Zhang, T. (2014). Rankings in institutional strategies and processes: Impact or illusion? European University Association.
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