Ranking HE systems, not institutions, could be socially transformative

By Brendan O’Malley – Managing Editor. In a series on Transformative Leadership in which University World News is partnering with The MasterCard Foundation, Ellen Hazelkorn asks how global higher education rankings might encourage excellence in our education systems and lead social transformation, rather than just concentrating benefit on a handful of world-class institutions.
In Commentary, Alan Ruby says university leaders in the United Kingdom need to speak up to ensure the academic community can continue to shape its connections with the wider world rather than leave them to be narrowed by others. And Darren McDermott expresses the hope that Ireland’s ambitious international higher education vision will get the support and funding it requires.
In World Blog this week, Grace Karram Stephenson outlines a strategic study which offers new hope for supporting victims of sexual assault at Canadian universities and prevention methods.
In Features, Christabel Ligami reports on a study by the British Council which examines how universities in Sub-Saharan Africa might contribute more effectively to preparing graduates for work and society.
In a section on Academic Freedom, Johanna Vuorelma says the threats to academics and academic freedom in Turkey are part of a wider European problem of a growing illiberalism that should be confronted. Zachariah Mushawatu says academic freedom in Zimbabwe is being curtailed not only because of draconian laws and the presence of spies in the universities, but also due to a lack of institutional autonomy from the state.
Finally, in a Special Report on the 7th conference of the African Network for Internationalisation of Education, Brennan Weiss reports on a keynote address calling for more data on transnational education in Africa, and Francis Kokutse reports on the secretary general of the Association of African Universities saying African universities need to find a way to take advantage of efforts to globalise higher education. Read more...