IREG Forum on Ranking Methodologieswill was held in Warsaw on May 16-17, 2013. The growing importance of national, regional and global university rankings attracted attention of ever larger group of stakeholders who show interest in how these rankings are made. They also realize that what each ranking tells or does not tell depend on the criteria used.

The IREG Forum on Ranking Methodologies was concentrated on discussion and analysis of various ranking methodologies. It examined methodologies of the main international and national rankings.

Ranking methodology represents a broad spectrum of methods; it covers philosophy behind a ranking (what makes a great university?), methods of collection and processing of data, and the way results are published. The desired and recommended set of principles that should be applied while preparing academic rankings were presented in 2006 as the IREG Berlin Principles on Ranking of Higher Education Institutions. According to the Berlin Principles every proper metodology should include the following key areas: purpose and goal of a ranking, design and weight of indicators, collection and processing of data, and presentation of the results.

The areas specified by the Berlin Principles are still valid today, however, the growing availability of data related to research and higher education contributes to fast changes in the data analysis and ranking methodologies. It is a high time for a thorough discussion on the evolution of ranking methodologies for the sake not only of ranking analysts but also for the benefit of the stockholders who want to understand the advantages and the shortcomings of various rankings.

More information is available on IREG website