University Rankings : assessing countries' Higher Education systems : creation and analysis of a new index
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- In the constantly evolving landscape of higher education, university rankings have quickly become integral to academia, catering to demands for quality assurance, resource optimization, and global visibility. These rankings, such as the Times Higher Education's World University Rankings, Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings, and ShanghaiRanking's Academic Ranking of World Universities, aim to motivate improvement and stimulate competition. Yet, their legitimacy and reliability have sparked scholarly debate and criticism. This thesis systematically explores the methodologies, significance, and shortcomings of these rankings. By dissecting their methodologies, the study gains a profound understanding of how they assess institutions. A comprehensive literature review highlights existing research areas, setting the stage for original contributions. An innovative direction taken in this work involves national-level rankings, introducing the National Education Performance Index (NEPI) to assess overall educational quality at a country level. This index, developed and analyzed in-depth, offers fresh insights into the quality of higher education systems. Case studies, such as Belgium and the European Union, reveal distinct performance variations within diverse contexts. Identifying key determinants of educational quality, the research underscores the critical roles of research and development expenditure and per-student funding. By elucidating the factors influencing quality, a predictive model emerges, contributing to the broader understanding of education systems. This thesis aims to broaden the discourse on rankings by examining positions on a country basis. It confirms biases, explores novel indices, and identifies core determinants.