University Internationalization | University Presidents Reflect on University Rankings: "One Thousand Schools" or Hundred Flowers Blooming?

British business organisations THE and QS have collaborated to launch the "University Rankings" in 2004, which are now widely accepted, and Hong Kong is regarded as an important indicator.

For example, some employers regard “graduating from the top 100 universities” as their recruitment criteria, and the SAR government often cites “there are five or less 100 universities in Hong Kong” as an example of the high level of local higher education.

The question is, are there "good and bad" universities?

Xu Lizhi, former president of the University of Hong Kong and dean of the Hong Kong Academy of Sciences, admitted in an exclusive interview with "Hong Kong 01" that many colleges "do the numbers" in order to rank, but there is "no necessary connection" between ranking and teaching quality.

"The most fundamental problem is that there is no definition of an ideal university." Malcolm Grant, the former president of University College London (UCL), once hit the nail on the head in a column: "Is the (ideal university) big or small? Do research or focus on teaching? Professional scientific and technological institutions for research income, or to give priority to the development of humanities and social sciences? Should we take risks or avoid risks in running a school?”

Comparing different universities with a set of criteria is like comparing "apples" and "Sydneys", ignoring their respective flavors.

Some studies have pointed out that the university ranking evaluation system tends to be "international" and "academic".

Under the rules, in order to improve their rankings, many universities have even abandoned their local characteristics, despised teaching, and turned their universities into "McDonald's".

"After the whole thing becomes 'doing the numbers', everyone will go to 'fight to do it'!" Xu Lizhi, former president of the University of Hong Kong and dean of the Hong Kong Academy of Sciences, criticized the biased ranking rules and caused problems, "If the Olympic rule is that you can run with 'food and medicine' Marathon, let's all "eat medicine" together!"

Speaking of the university rankings described as "necessary evil", Xu Lizhi gushed endlessly...

For details, please read the 318th issue of "Hong Kong 01" e-Weekly Newsletter (23 May 2022) "

Xu Lizhi, the former president of the University of Hong Kong and dean of the Hong Kong Academy of Sciences, criticized many colleges and universities that "do the numbers" under the university rankings.

(Provided by the Hong Kong Academy of Sciences)

The SAR government often talks about "there are five top 100 universities in Hong Kong". The picture shows Chief Executive Carrie Lam visiting the university laboratory.

(File photo: Information Services Department)