Adelaide's ranking strong but broader vision needed

The University of Adelaide's North Terrace Campus.
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Thursday, 4 October 2012

The University of Adelaide's Vice-Chancellor and President has again called for an improved ranking system that provides the best possible consumer advice to students, following the release of the latest Times Higher Education world university rankings.

This year's Times Higher Education (THE) rankings place the University of Adelaide at 176, which again is in the top 1% of universities in the world.

Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Warren Bebbington said: "Of course I should be pleased our Times Higher Education ranking has lifted 31 places, but the reality is there is a new ranking system appearing almost every month, and their methods change. Some of them are narrowly focused.

"The University of Adelaide remains amongst the best ranked universities in our part of the world. But we would all benefit from rankings that provide a broader spectrum of consumer advice."

Professor Bebbington said the University's focus was to "create a truly unique and immensely rewarding experience for every student within a rich, research-intensive environment".

"There are so many factors that influence an exceptional student experience that are not currently captured in any singular ranking system. The current rankings offer only a narrow snapshot of a university," Professor Bebbington says.

"While this year's result might be pleasing, what universities really need is a ranking that offers different lists for undergraduate teaching programs, international research-focused programs, and regionally-focused programs.

"As a sector, we should be moving towards comprehensive, meaningful data that helps to inform student choice, particularly for international students who look to rankings without always understanding the relevance to their individual learning experience."

To see a video of Professor Bebbington talking about the rankings, go to the University of Adelaide's YouTube channel.

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