University of Zurich and Times Higher Education ranking
University of Zurich
The University of Zurich (UZH) has decided it will no longer provide data for the Times Higher Education (THE) ranking.
The University of Zurich recommends that all prospective students compare the contents and structure of study programs, and that interested researchers and potential partner institutions inform themselves about the research programs, academic culture and working conditions on offer. Finding the right course and university for you and successfully beginning your studies or research career at an institution always involves looking closely at the teaching and opportunities on offer before you take the plunge – this is far more important than any ranking.
The benefits and influence of rankings on the world of academia has long been the subject of controversial debate. Rankings generally focus on measurable output, which can have unintended consequences, for example leading universities to concentrate on increasing the number of publications instead of improving the quality of their content. Although rankings purport to comprehensively measure universities’ diverse achievements in teaching and research, they cannot do so as they reduce indicators to a score and focus on quantitative criteria.
As a result of these conflicting approaches, UZH has decided it will no longer provide data for the THE ranking.
The University of Zurich has actively campaigned for many years, both nationally and internationally, for a culture of openness in academia. Open Science stands for open exchange, transparency and reproducibility, and promotes high-quality, efficient and impactful research. Moreover, UZH is a signatory of the international Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment coordinated by the European Science Foundation, the European University Association and other organizations, in which the emphasis is on quality over quantity. The UZH leadership team is convinced that scientific quality should be the decisive factor in all research policy decisions.
The University of Zurich is strongly committed to open science, which stands for open exchange, transparency and reproducibility, and promotes high-quality, efficient and impactful research. The benefits and influence of rankings on the world of academia have long been the subject of controversial debate. Some of the methods used to calculate rankings lack transparency and are controversial. Rankings focus on measurable output, which has unintended consequences, for example leading universities to concentrate on increasing the number of publications instead of improving the quality of their content.
Although rankings purport to comprehensively measure universities’ diverse achievements in teaching and research, they cannot realistically do so as they reduce indicators to a blunt score and focus on quantitative criteria. The rankings’ measurement of performance and quality is inadequate, they sometimes take the wrong aspects into account, and they run counter to universities’ strategic goals such as the promotion of open science practices. Within the current ongoing movement to reform research assessments, rankings are viewed critically.
Due to the divergence of UZH’s viewpoint from the Times Higher Education’s approach, we have decided to no longer provide data for the THE ranking. They are also considering whether to continue with other rankings such as Shanghai, QS and US News & World Report ranking. With this move, UZH is taking another step toward a more transparent, open, efficient, fair and inclusive research environment that empowers our researchers to conduct cutting-edge research. The University of Zurich is convinced that scientific quality should be the decisive factor in all research policy decisions, that open science practices make an important contribution to said scientific quality, and that rankings should not be allowed to have a negative influence in this regard.
