Theoretical underpinnings of the university ranking discourse

Abstract

AbstractThe major aim of this contribution is to summarize the theoretical underpinnings of the most popular rankings, as they have been identified within the discourse of “world class universities” during the first decade of the 21st century. This period is chosen, because the discourse thereafter did not elicit further key issues to be discussed. Additionally, other dimensions of the critique will be briefly touched upon, notably methodological issues. In this framework, attention will be paid as well to the handling of humanities and social sciences within such rankings. Finally, the question will be raised, where we are now - some years after such a period of heated controversies about the rankings of “world class universities”: Are rankings “here to stay” and thus go on more or less unchanged by the fundamental critique of their specific theoretical underpinnings, often called “ideological underpinnings”? Do we observe changes in the ranking mainstream? Can we expect new accents of higher education policy, which will successfully call for another “map” of the higher education system?