What is a University Ranking? — How to Interpret and Wisely Utilize Indicators in the Global Era —

Table of Contents

1. Introduction: Background of the Birth of Rankings

2. Comprehensive Comparison of the World's Four Major Rankings

3. Domestic Rankings and Japan's Unique Evaluation Criteria

4. How Indicators Are Created—Behind the Scenes of Data Collection and Weighting

5. Checkpoints International Students Should Know

6. The Impact of Universities on Rankings: Pros and Cons

7. 10 Tips for Utilizing Rankings

8. Misunderstandings and FAQ: Answering Common Questions

9. Conclusion—A Compass to Navigate the Sea of Indicators

10. List of Reference Articles

1. Introduction: Background of the Birth of Rankings

Modern university rankings rapidly became visible starting with the creation of the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) by Shanghai Jiao Tong University in 2003. Subsequently, THE (2004), QS (independent version in 2010), and U.S. News (2014) joined in, and rankings have grown into an "educational industry infrastructure" influencing student recruitment, research funding, and national policies. shanghairanking.com

Behind the birth of rankings were three challenges: (1) the expansion of the global human resources market, (2) the demand for international comparison of research outcomes, and (3) the lack of cross-national and regional investment decision materials. This chapter provides an overview of the historical background.

2. Comprehensive Comparison of the World's Four Major Rankings

Strengths and Blind Spots of Each Ranking

• Research-focused ARWU is heavily influenced by Nobel Prizes, favoring long-established prestigious universities in the UK and USA.

• THE, which emphasizes educational experience, has a Teaching indicator of about 30%. Mid-sized research universities that are easy to evaluate with student-faculty ratios tend to rank high.

• Employment-oriented QS adopts a 15% employer survey. Singapore and Hong Kong, with strong industry networks, are rapidly rising.

• U.S. News, with a comprehensive balance, adjusts for region in addition to total papers and impact, with U.S. public universities appearing at the top.

3. Domestic Rankings and Japan's Unique Evaluation Criteria

In Japan, there are rankings such as 'THE Japan University Rankings' and 'Nikkei HR Employment Rankings' that emphasize entrance difficulty, employment achievements, and educational satisfaction. Important for foreigners are "tuition and scholarships," "number of English programs," and "number of joint research projects with companies." The presence of international accreditation (such as JABEE, AACSB) is also a checkpoint.

4. How Indicators Are Created—Behind the Scenes of Data Collection and Weighting

1. University Self-reported Data: Faculty numbers and financial indicators are submitted by universities. Audit procedures exist to prevent falsification.

2. International Databases: Papers and citations are automatically obtained from Scopus, Web of Science, etc.

3. Survey Research: Academic reputation and employer reputation are adjusted for bias through surveys involving tens of thousands of participants.

4. Weighting: Each ranking reflects "social demands." For example, QS will introduce a "sustainability indicator" from 2025 with SDGs in mind.
   
   

Caution: Since English-language databases are used, humanities in non-English-speaking regions tend to be undervalued.

5. Checkpoints International Students Should Know

• Rankings by Major: It's not uncommon for a university to be ranked 200th overall but 20th in the world for "Materials Engineering."

• Ratio and Support for International Students: Even regional national universities in Japan are rapidly increasing English degree programs. There are also significant regional differences in living costs.

• Post-graduation Visa and Employment: Japan has extended the "Specified Activities Visa (Job Search)" to a maximum of 2 years. Look at the track record of the career support office rather than the ranking.

6. The Impact of Universities on Rankings: Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Acceleration of Educational Investment through Competition

• Clarification of Research KPIs and Rationalization of Funding Allocation
  
  

Cons:

• "Mass Production of Papers" and "Inflated Foreign Faculty" to Conform to Indicators

• Financially Weak Universities Falling in Rank → Vicious Cycle of Decreased Applicants

7. 10 Tips for Utilizing Rankings

1. Compare in Three Layers: Overall × Major × Region

2. View Trends Over the Last 3 Years with a Line

3. Check Student Satisfaction and Dropout Rates

4. Check Citation Count per Research Funding

5. Measure Industry-Academia Collaboration by Faculty's Industry Engagement Rate

6. Ratio of Scholarship Slots for International Students

7. Presence of Mentoring Systems and Career Support

8. Campus Location and Living Costs

9. Campus Diversity (Female Ratio, Number of Nationalities)

10. Size of Alumni Network

8. Misunderstandings and FAQ: Answering Common Questions

Q. Are universities ranked below 100 of low value?
A. No. They may be world-class in specific majors. Prioritize your learning objectives.

Q. Isn't the data falsified?
A. Audit and sample surveys are conducted on self-reported items, but they are not perfect. Get into the habit of cross-checking multiple rankings.

9. Conclusion—A Compass to Navigate the Sea of Indicators

University rankings are not "absolute truths" but "multifaceted measures." By comparing multiple rankings and checking compatibility with majors, learning environments, and careers, they truly reveal their value. Use the checklist provided in this article to interpret the "educational experience" and "research culture" behind the numbers and identify the optimal place for your further studies or joint research.

List of Reference Articles (External Links, Chronological Order)

• 2023-09-20 THE World University Rankings 2024 Methodology

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