Rankings aren’t the last word, says Swinburne University

Swinburne University decided that rankings are not everything and signed on to an initiative to recognise broader university achievement.

Swinburne University says that rankings are not the be all and end all of university achievement.

Swinburne University of Technology has joined the More Than Our Rank initiative, a global movement to promote a broader definition of success for universities than their position in a ranking table.

Founded by the International Network of Research Management Societies in 2022, the initiative was “developed in response to some of the problematic features and effects of the global university rankings”.

“It provides an opportunity for academic institutions to highlight the many and various ways they serve the world that are not reflected in their ranking position,” says the More Than Our Rank website.

“By participating in the More Than Our Rank initiative, academic institutions are demonstrating a commitment to responsible assessment and to acknowledging a broader and more diverse definition of institutional success.”

University ranking systems – particularly the Shanghai Ranking (also known as ARWU), Times Higher Education and QS – are very influential in higher education, particularly among universities which market their degrees to Chinese students.

More Than Our Rank lists 19 universities worldwide which have joined so far, plus Swinburne which will be the second Australian member. Queensland University of Technology has already joined.

Swinburne deputy vice-chancellor (research) Karen Hapgood said that, by joining More Than Our Rank, her university was not invalidating ranking systems but wanted to broaden the discussion about rankings.

“They (rankings) do say some things. But then here are some clear instances of what else this university is particularly proud of that’s core to its vision,” she said.

Swinburne has nominated several of its initiatives including an online mental health program, the Children’s University to engage children in education, its advanced manufacturing programs, and its National Centre for Reconciliation Practice, as examples of what it does which is not highlighted in university ranking systems.

Professor Hapgood said Swinburne was nevertheless proud of its ranking achievements including the fact that it rose into the top 250 universities in the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

But she said that in her area of responsibility of research, the university was doing valuable work with industry and the community that were not picked up in traditional measures of research excellence which are measured in the rankings.

Professor Hapgood said the More Than Our Rank initiative was gaining international recognition. She noted that universities which signed on to it were check marked in the CWTS Leiden Ranking, a system which avoids ranking universities on a single ladder and allows users explore the different results that come from changing the ranking criteria.