University rankings
In the Singapore’s context, this year’s Asia-Pacific university ranking results have had aroused a very heated discussion within the society.
The rankings have been widely used to backtalk the National University of Singapore (NUS) against Nanyang Technological University (NTU); however, there have also been criticisms with regards to the numerous variation in university rankings being released. Many were confused as to which ranking results they should be paying attention to, and had questioned their credibility as well.
The variation in rankings is typically dependent on the factors each ranking exercise weighs as being more important, whether these are the volume of research, teaching standards or graduates employability.
However, notably one critical fact remains constant. We are still keeping an eye on these rankings, thereby implying its significance.
They matter to People and Universities
University rankings are of certain significance for those in the professional services and technical professions that require proficiency within their fields to meet clients’ expectations.
While this is psychological to a certain extent; a top tier university is typically viewed as being equivalent to the provision of professional excellence. Hence, companies may be more inclined to work with them to ensure a greater success probability.
In addition, many have overseen the fact that education is an industry in itself. Therefore, there is usually a positive correlation between a university’s rankings and the student enrollment rate amount of university funding, and the chance in which faculty gets reimbursed. Governments are also providing great support in research to improve their universities’ rankings.
They matter to Employees and Businesses
University rankings help top-notch organisations to plan and prioritise their graduate hiring activities and costly campus recruitment programmes, as such activities are typically reserved for top-ranking tertiary institutions.
The rankings generally act as a screening tool for companies to shortlist potential graduates for interview(s). Therefore, when companies begin entrusting artificial intelligence with the task of screening resumes to fill in positions, there may be a heightened inclination for organisations to refer to the ranking results as a basis to shortlist candidates.
In addition, top-ranking university provides the convenience for a management team to recruit employees. Furthermore, it remains attractive for a company to state that their top management came from prestigious institutions as this enhances the prominence of their leadership and in turn, their company.
They matter to Graduates
For a start, universities at the upper tier of the rankings list help to increase the employment opportunities of fresh graduates. However, it is important to note that graduating from these universities do not serve as a saving grace for hired individuals who have poor job performance. Their university background may also lead to an adverse effect and have them being labeled as solely “book smart”.
Therefore, in conclusion, university rankings matter to employers and universities; and to those students’ whose fundamental aim is to acquire better employment opportunities for a start.
Source: Channel News Asia
Share your knowledge, voice your opinions and help bring the global higher education sector to greater heights by marking the following QS events in your calendar this coming 2018:
- QS in Conversation seminar held from 7-9 February 2018, in London, UK
- 2nd QS Worldwide 2018 held from 22-23 May 2018 in Moscow, Russia