Comparing the international rankings

So, how does the University of Waterloo rate among the estimated 20,000 universities around the world?

The answer depends on which set of rankings you believe, and there are three to choose from this season. The Academic Ranking of World Universities based in at Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China came out in August. They’re joined this month by the World University Rankings from Quacquarelli Symonds Ltd. in London; and the other World University Rankings, from Times Higher Education, also in London. (In previous years QS was the organization which collected the data that was used to inform the THE ranking. THE is now using Thomson Reuters to collect its data, and QS has decided to continue to publish its own ranking.)

All three rate 200 to 500 universities, and all three show the top rungs dominated by American institutions. Here’s how the three sets compare on some key issues:

Best university in the world? Harvard, according to Shanghai and THE. Cambridge, according to QS, which puts Harvard second.

Best Canadian university? Toronto, according to Shanghai (which ranked it 27th in the world) and THE (17th). McGill, according to QS, which put it in 19th place (and Toronto in 29th). In all three cases, top three are Toronto, McGill and UBC in some order.

How close is Waterloo to being Canada’s best? Seventh place, according to QS; tied for seventh, according to Shanghai. THE doesn’t have a ranking for Waterloo at all this year.

Canadian institutions in the top 200? Eight according to Shanghai; nine according to THE; ten according to QS. (Canada has about one-half of 1 per cent of the world’s population, or one out of 200.)

Waterloo’s position in the world? 145th according to QS; between 151st and 200th according to Shanghai, which lists universities only in such groups after the top cohort; not visible in the top 200 listed by THE.

So is Waterloo up or down? Up according to Shanghai, which had it in the 201-300 grouping last year. Down according to QS, which put it 113th last year (in the QS-THE joint ranking that’s no longer operated). Disappeared from the top 200 altogether, according to THE. A review of the THE rankings is under way in Waterloo's institutional analysis and planning office, "to better understand why we experienced such a significant shift", says vice-president (external relations) Meg Beckel.

What are the rankings based on? None of the organizations completely explains its formula and reveals its data. "Some rankings include reputational surveys, some use citation indexes and research measures to which we may not have full access," says Jennifer Kieffer of Waterloo's office of institutional analysis and planning. In general, analysts say, the Shanghai rankings concentrate on research impact (such as the number of times an institution’s researchers are quoted in print), THE depends heavily on research indicators such as grants and publications, and QS puts an emphasis on institutional reputation.

More reading: from the Christian Science Monitor; from the Waterloo Region Record; from the Globe and Mail. Another interpretation of world university rankings is expected in the issue of US News and World Report magazine that's scheduled for publication tomorrow. Later this week, THE is expected to publish a separate, subject-specific ranking of science and technology schools.

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Skiing medalist to give library's lecture

a news release from the media relations office

Beckie Scott, the first North American woman to capture a cross-country skiing Olympic gold medal, will discuss the practice of clean sport among other topics during the University of Waterloo's Friends of the Library lecture and authors event tomorrow.

A tireless advocate for drug-free sport, Scott (right) was most recently involved in organizing the Vancouver Olympic Games. The three-time Olympian and former Waterloo student will give a talk, entitled "Visions of Excellence: How the Strength of a Dream and the Power of a Team Took on the World". It will take place Tuesday at 4 p.m. in in the Humanities Theatre. The talk is free and open to the public.

In her lecture, Scott will provide a behind-the-scenes review of the Games, her involvement in the International Olympic Committee as well as her thoughts on clean sport.

"This year's lecture will be an opportunity for the campus community and interested members of the public to hear a first-hand account of the Olympic experience and organization behind the games," says Mark Haslett, university librarian. "Attendees will also have the opportunity to appreciate the creative works of 39 individuals from the University of Waterloo community that will be showcased at the event."

Scott, a member of the International Olympic Committee, was ranked among the world's elite cross-country skiers and sprint racers. She won a gold medal for cross-country skiing at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Games. She was also the nordic silver medallist at the 2006 Olympic Games in Turin. As well, she is Canada's current representative on the World Anti-Doping Agency's athlete committee.

Throughout her career, Scott has been recognized for her charitable endeavours, and was honoured with the Governor General’s meritorious service award. She is a Unicef Canada special representative, is co-chair of the Canadian Advisory Council for Right to Play, and has made several trips to Africa on behalf of these humanitarian organizations.

The annual public lecture and authors event, hosted by the university library, highlights accomplished individuals associated with Waterloo. On display will be books authored by faculty, staff and alumni.

Earlier tomorrow, Scott will take part in a symposium on "Ethics and Sport" organized by the department of philosophy, starting at 10 a.m. in Humanities building room 373.

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Senate looks to fall convocation

The university senate will hold its first meeting of the fall term today, and no doubt will take a few moments to say goodbye to its chair. The presiding officer of the senate — the university's academic governing body — is the president, and that's the office David Johnston will leave next week after 11 years at Waterloo. He's on today's agenda to give the last in his series of characteristic "environmental scans", surveying what's happening in education, government, the economy and other fields that influence the life of the university. Also on the agenda: a report on the progress of the fledgling Waterloo campus in the United Arab Emirates; an announcement of honorary degrees and other awards to be given at fall Convocation ceremonies next month; an overhaul of curriculum requirements in the Bachelor of Accounting and Financial Management program.

Senate will also be briefed on a report about the relationship between UW and the "Federated university and affiliated colleges" (formerly "church colleges") that was written this summer by three administrators. "The strong and mutually beneficial relationship between UW and the FUAC rests in large measure upon personal relationships developed among key senior officials," it says, warning that such relationships can easily get disrupted as people leave or change jobs. The report suggests putting more procedures in writing, and giving more responsibility to the "discipline groups" that link college and university representatives in particular academic fields. "There is little or no joint planning being undertaken," the report warns. "Informal arrangements for teaching in shared disciplines are proving inadequate to ensure a seamless program delivery to students." It also touches on issues ranging from residence beds to construction funding.

The senate meeting starts at 4:00 in Needles Hall room 3001, but will be preceded by a 3:00 "orientation" session for new members (and continuing members who want a refresher). The senate includes deans and other officials, elected students, and faculty representatives from across the university.

Speaking of David Johnston, as we seem to be doing a lot these days: “Want to hear about our future Governor General’s early career fumble?” asks Kerry Mahoney of the Centre for Career Action. “Do this and more by watching our True Career Crime video series.” In fact, students can enter to win a $500 campus gift certificate by participating in the centre’s video contest, thus: “Watch uWaterloo celebrities confess their True Career Crimes on YouTube. Create a video confession of your own true career crime. Email us and upload your video to YouTube, as outlined on our website. Your entry will be judged partly on the number of ‘likes’ it receives on YouTube.” About those “crimes”, Mahoney observes that “even people with truly exceptional careers have made career mistakes at some point. Centre for Career Action staff can help students navigate the career concerns they’re facing, whether they are graduate students, undergrads, regular stream or co-op students.” Workshops and appointments are explained on the centre’s website, and visitors are welcome on the first floor of the Tatham Centre.

Drawings by two fine arts students, including the work shown at left, have graced the Davis Centre library over the past few days, but are scheduled to come down today. The life-sized figures are the work of Rain Shen and Ivana Vukov and are done on vellum and tracing paper so that they can be viewed from either side of the windows on which they're mounted.

Finally, here's an invitation for departmental administrative assistants (or anybody else with reliable information) to check out the "University Officers and Administrators" webpage, which I have the fun of maintaining, and notify me (credmond@ uwaterloo.ca) of any changes or corrections that need to be made.

CAR

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