GLOBAL: A GOOD NATIONAL SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION: THE LESSONS OF THE U21 RANKINGS

Abstract

It is the nature and quality of the higher education system as a whole, not just that of research intensive universities, that matters for the economic, social, and cultural development of a nation. However, the international rankings of universities are based heavily on research performance, largely ignoring teaching and training, scholarship, and community engagement. These rankings are influencing university behavior, especially in Europe, Asia, and Australasia, and act to reduce the diversity of higher education institutions.