University rankings: Do we really need annual university rankings?

By Alex Usher. Small annual movements up or down global university rankings are largely meaningless, says Alex Usher. Pay them no mind.
The Times Higher Education’s annual Reputation rankings were released last night, and by the time this is published will no doubt be the subject of much discussion on the internet. Much as I enjoy most of what the THE does, the hype around these rankings is pretty tedious. Though they are not an unalloyed good, rankings have their benefits. They allow people to compare the inputs, outputs, and (if you’re lucky) processes and outcomes at various institutions. Read more...