Recent rankings (2012) show that some of the SriLankan Universities are able to
achieve very good positions in the South Asian region.
They have been ranked among the best
in the list of South Asian University category, as reported by international
grading of universities. According to the ranking Webometrics of World
Universities in selecting the ‘Top 100 universities in South Asia in the 2012’,
Colombo University is in the 8th place.
It is the highest
position achieved by any Srilankan Universities. So consequently the achievement of Sri
Lankan Universities should be celebrated.
University Ranking
- University of Colombo (UOC) 08
- University of Peradeniya (UOP) 23
- University of Moratuwa (UOM) 50
- University of Sri Jayewardenepura (USJP) 61
- University of Kelaniya (UOK) 98
So are we on the track that leads to 'SL as a knowledge hub' ...?!?
Why we are so behind...???
How they rank the local Universities ?
Different ranking methods have been
applied in the globe. The Webometrics ranking is actually targeting to promote
Web publication. Certain measurements have been used in this ranking consists
of supporting Open Access initiatives, electronic access to scientific
publications and to other academic material. This ranking has a larger coverage
(in terms of universities) than other similar rankings.
It is important to understand
the measurement used by TIMES rankings (with data supplied by Thomson Reuters
Corp.). They employ 13 separate performance indicators designed to capture the
full range of university activities, from teaching, research to knowledge
transfer.
These 13 elements are brought
together into 5 headline categories, which are:
- Teaching - the learning environment (worth 30 % of the overall ranking score).
- Research - volume, income and reputation (worth 30 %).
- Citations - research influence (30 %).
- Industry income - innovation (2.5 %).
- International outlook - staff, students and research (7.5 %)
It is important to note that 60 %
has been allocated for ‘research and citations’. Sri Lankan universities have
not touched upon this particular area properly.
According to TIMES rankings
California Institute of Technology, ranked as #1 is followed by Harvard
and Stanford in US.
Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay is the only South
Asian university ranked among top 400 universities in the world. The same
university is ranked as number two in South Asia under the ranking of
Webometrics.
Furthermore Prestigious Quacquarelli
Symonds (QS) can also be considered as one of the rankings which have been
accepted in the world. But not a single Indian University represents South Asia
in the first list of top 200.
As the methodology of QS six indicators are drawn
together to form an international ranking of universities -
1. Academic reputation (from global survey) – 40 %
2. Employee reputation (from global survey) – 10 %
3. Scopus citations per faculty – 20 %
4. Faculty-Student ratio – 20 %
5. Proportion of
international student – 5 %
6. Proportion of international faculty – 5%
6. Proportion of international faculty – 5%
Accordingly the University of Cambridge, ranked number 1 among the world in this ranking, is followed by Harvard (US) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US).
It is apparent that certain rankings
used by different Institutes are diverse. It is a duty for Sri Lankan authorities to understand different rankings and prepare certain standards for our national universities.
University Grants Commission (UGC) of Sri Lanka can introduce such a formula
(by benchmarking one of the above methods) to rank our universities. The
competition within the sector for better rankings will bring Sri Lanka into the
world map in terms of quality of education in the future.
This can be used to
grade foreign universities and private institutes that are operating in Sri Lanka as well. The technique will
provide them some targets not only in terms of profit but for the contribution
for research and development of the country. As in the private sector striving to
obtain quality standards like the ISO, there should be preparations for each
university by appointing a special task force consisting of respective
authorities.
Sri Lanka is famous as a
country with a higher literacy rate, which is above 90%. So there should be a proper framework and strategies for the
country to move forward in higher education and to make our homeland as the 'miracle of the Asia'.
REFERENCE
-
thank u -
