Universities Hire Rankings Pros

Andrew Trounson:

Some Australian universities are paying about $100,000 a year each to employ full-time managers dedicated to working with ranking agencies and developing strategies aimed at climbing league tables.

The University of New South Wales recently advertised for a manager of strategic reputation, while La Trobe University was seeking a manager of institutional rankings. For $100,000, responsibilities included maintaining relationships with ranking agencies to "maximize" or "optimize" their positions in rankings.

Observers say such positions highlight the growing importance of rankings in influencing research and teaching plans. But there are concerns that the professionalized management of rankings risks warping university strategies and may prove more a marketing effort than an effort to boost the substance of an institution's performance.

The deputy vice chancellor at New South Wales, Les Field, said the position wasn't new and was part of a team that ensured the information sent to annual data collections and the ranking agencies was accurate.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at March 26, 2013 1:18 AM
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