Brazil, Russia, India, China And South Nations Research Articles

The Current Regulatory Environment for Software Used in Medical Devices: A Need for Refined International Strategies

In the fast-evolving landscape of healthcare technology, Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) has emerged as a transformative force, redefining how medical functionalities are delivered and accessed. From diagnostic algorithms to treatment monitoring applications, SaMD has ushered in a new era of innovation and patient care[1]. As this field continues to burgeon, regulatory frameworks play a pivotal role in ensuring the safety, efficacy, and reliability of these digital health solutions[2]. In this editorial, we delve into the dynamic regulatory landscape of SaMD in both the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) nations and the United States (US), exploring the nuances and challenges that underscore the need for more refined strategies. By examining the regulatory intricacies and aligning them with technological advancements, we aim to shed light on the imperative of adaptive regulatory approaches that can harness the full potential of SaMD while safeguarding public health. A remarkable role of "software as a medical device" (SaMD) in contemporary healthcare software that is intended to be used for medical purposes but is not a component of a hardware medical device is referred to as "software as a medical device" (SaMD)[3]. SaMD is essential to contemporary healthcare since it makes it possible to use software applications for a variety of medical functions, diagnoses, treatments, and monitoring [4].

The Long Run Impact of Exchange Rate and Inflation on GDP: A Panel Data Approach Consistent with Data from Brazil, Russia, India, China, And South Africa (BRICS)

The study seeks to address current discrepancies, providing valuable knowledge for decision-makers, fostering economic stability and expansion, informing global economic trends, assisting in business risk mitigation, and contributing to academic advancement through methodological innovation, with a focus on the changing nature of global economic dynamics. The purpose of this study is to assess how inflation and currency exchange rates affect the GDPs of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) nations between 1998 and 2022 We employed a fixed-effect panel data model using EViews software to conduct a thorough regression analysis on the influence of exchange rates and inflation on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the BRICS nations. The World Development Indicators website provides data that shows that, in contrast to predictions, exchange rates have no appreciable impact on GDP. Nonetheless, during the given time frame, inflation turns out to be a noteworthy and positively connected element impacting these countries' economic growth. This research contributes to the current understanding by uncovering the complex interconnections between exchange rates, inflation, and GDP in BRICS economies. Our findings highlight the necessity of customized economic strategies that recognise the distinct functions of inflation and currency rates in influencing the long-term growth patterns of individual countries.

New insight into decoupling carbon emissions from economic growth: Do financialization, human capital, and energy security risk matter?

AbstractAgainst the backdrop of persistent climate change and deteriorating environmental pressure, this study integrates financialization, human capital, and energy security risks to provide new insight into decoupling carbon emissions from economic growth. The study employs annual panel data on the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) countries for the period of 1990–2019. The research employs the C‐S ARDL approach and the Tapio decoupling index to assess the decoupling status of the BRICS countries. In addition, this study applies the recently developed Juodis, Karavias, and Sarafidis Granger noncausality test for robustness. The findings offer compelling evidence of an inverted U‐shaped curve, aligning with the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis. Consequently, the results confirm the decoupling of carbon emissions in the BRICS nations. Furthermore, the Tapio decoupling elasticity index confirms different carbon decoupling statuses among the BRICS. The results show expansive negative decoupling for Brazil, weak decoupling for India and China, and strong decoupling for Russia and South Africa. In terms of policy, achieving strong decoupling status in the BRICS requires that financial institutions' lending and investing strategies align with environmental objectives. In addition, human capital development policies such as increased spending on education should be vigorously pursued to empower people to lead sustainable development projects.

Clinical trial trends over the last 5 years among the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) nations

Abstract Purpose: Although the Americas and Europe have historically dominated the global research landscape, emerging economies – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) have significantly increased their contributions in recent years. This article studies clinical trial trends in the BRICS nations between 2018 and 2022 and compares it with trends in the G7 nations (comprising Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, the USA, and the European Union). This will help stakeholders in planning drug development strategies. Materials and Methods: Data were collected from the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (WHO ICTRP) and the World Bank database. An electronic search was done for the total number of trials registered between January 1, 2018, and March 15, 2023. Information was analyzed based on the year of registration, therapeutic area, type of intervention, sponsorship, and type of special population. The trial density indices (TDIs) were calculated based on population (Xi) and gross domestic product (GDP) (Yi) using author-derived formulae. Results: Altogether 2, 77, 536 trials from the BRICS and G7 were registered. China and the US had the most trials among the BRICS and G7, respectively. Between 2018 and 2022, the gap between the BRICS and G7 steadily reduced. The most common indication for clinical trials among the BRICS was cancer. Based on population, the TDI was the highest in China and the lowest in Russia. In proportion to the GDP, the TDI was maximum in Russia and minimum in India. Conclusion: There is a remarkable reduction in the gap in clinical trial trends between the BRICS and G7 nations. Among the BRICS, India and China are at the forefront in drug development. There is scope for improvement in trial density based on India’s population and GDP. Stakeholders are likely to utilize the strengths of the BRICS as an attractive destination for investment in this area.

The Impact of Agricultural Employment and Technological Innovation on the Environment: Evidence from BRICS Nations Considering a Novel Environmental Sustainability Indicator

This study fills a gap created by previous environmental investigations by including the impact of agricultural employment and technology on the load capacity factor (LCF) rather than solely focusing on CO2 or greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which only measure from the demand side; LCF provides a complete picture of environmental degradation by evaluating both the demand side and supply side. This connection is moderated further by considering the renewable energy and natural resource rent impacts. In this analysis, panel econometric methods are incorporated, including the cross-sectional dependence test. This study uses the Pooled Mean Group–Autoregressive Distributed Lag (PMG-ARDL) model to evaluate the level of effect independent factors had on the LCF of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) nations from 1992 to 2020 in the presence of a heterogeneous integration order. The estimations recognize heterogeneity in the effects of agricultural employment, renewable energy, natural resource rent, and technology on LCF, in the short run and long run. According to the empirical results, agricultural employment significantly enhances the LCF both in the short run and long run, implying that employment in agriculture improves environmental sustainability. However, increasing the use of renewable energy protects the environment from degradation only in the long run; it has no significant impact in the short run. On the contrary, natural resource rent and technology lead to a decline in environmental sustainability in the long run. Hence, this study recommends prioritizing renewable energy intake over other energies, providing proper incentives to motivate agricultural entrepreneurship to ensure a sustainable environment.

Impact of natural resources and technology on economic development and sustainable environment – Analysis of resources-energy-growth-environment linkages in BRICS

To examine the effects of technological advancements and natural resources in the energy-growth-environment nexus for a panel of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) economies over 1990–2022, we use the extended STIRPAT “(stochastic impact of regression on population, affluence, and technology)” model. Results obtained using the “Augmented Mean Group (AMG) and Fully Modified-Least Square (FM-LS) panel algorithms” show that technological advancements may lower CO2 emissions and boost economic development in the BRICS nations. Our calculations also confirm the classic “environmental Kuznets curve (EKC)” for the BRICS and, to a lesser extent, for other nations, and they support energy push emissions. Additionally, the empirical findings point to a one-way causal relationship between income and CO2; however, a two-way causal relationship between revenue and energy consumption and between the energy use and emissions of CO2in the BRICS and individual countries is also functional. The findings show that to attain energy security and a sustainable environment; governments may consider the role of innovations as a green supply of technology.

Do Technological Innovation and Financial Development Affect Inequality? Evidence from BRICS Countries

While technological innovation and financial development are broadly credited as important drivers of economic growth of developed nations, their impact on inequality (especially in emerging economies) remains understudied. Thus, the objective of this study is to investigate the impact of technological innovation and financial development on income inequality in BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) countries using panel dynamic ordinary least squares (PDOLS) and panel fully modified ordinary least squares (PFMOLS) with annual data sourced from the Standardized World Income Inequality Database, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (1990–2017). The results suggest that technological innovation increases income inequality in the BRICS nations, while financial development has an income reducing effect on inequality. Our results are robust, using alternative estimation with various sub-indicators of financial development (such as financial markets and financial institution), including other measures proxied by access to credit provided by commercial banks. The study’s results have important implications for policy and practice in the BRICS countries. By providing a nuanced understanding of the relationship between technological innovation, financial development and inequality, the study will inform the design and implementation of policies aimed at reducing inequality and promoting inclusive growth in these emerging economies.

Sustainable development efficiency and its influencing factors across BRICS and G7 countries: An empirical comparison

Sustainable development is the global overarching paradigm and essential for achieving economic, social, and environmental development. The primary goal of this study is to compare the efficiency of sustainable development and evaluate its influencing factors across the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) and G7 (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and United States) countries by examining total factor productivity, efficiency change, and technological change. For this, we adopted the super-efficiency SBM-DEA model with undesirable output and Global Malmquist-Luenberger (GML) productivity index model to overcome inaccurate efficiency results while avoiding environmentally unwanted outputs and to resolve the shortcomings of the conventional Malmquist-Luenberger index. It is also necessary to explore relevant influencing factors on the environmental pollution thereby affects the sustainable development efficiency of the study countries, thus, this study employed STIRPAT approach. A panel data of BRICS and G7 countries from 2005 to 2015 is used. The findings reveal that sustainable total factor productivity (GML) in China (1.0165), the US (1.0150), and UK (1.0024) is on the rise. China is also one of the countries that experienced the highest positive efficiency change (GMLEC) (1.0147) and the US has the highest positive technical change (GMLTC) (1.0103). Contrarily, Russia experienced the highest decline in GMLTC (0.9316) as well as GML indexes (0.9337), whereas South Africa experienced the highest decline in GMLEC (0.9707). Additionally, GDP per capita (.0969) and population (.4178) have a positive influence on CO2 emissions in the BRICS countries, whereas in the G7 nations, GDP per capita (−.2180) and population (−.1249) have negative influences on CO2 emissions. The study also offers practical recommendations to address identified limitations and improve sustainable productivity and environmental efficiency. The inverse link between GDP and CO2 emissions might imply that the G7 nations have passed the turning point on an environmental Kuznets curve (EKC), but this finding does not support the EKC hypothesis in the BRICS nations.

Investigating the Determinants of Financial Inclusion in BRICS Economies: Panel Data Analysis Using Fixed-Effect and Cross-Section Random Effect

The current research empirically analyses the determinants of financial inclusion (FI) for BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) nations using the no. of depositors and Automated Teller Machines/user as dependent variables, a proxy for FI from 2004 to 2019. The study employs fixed-effect, cross-section random-effect and simple panel least square techniques to determine FI for different BRICS countries. The empirical findings of fixed effect and cross-section random highlight that population and internet users affirmatively and significantly influence FI. Simple panel least square analysis indicates that domestic credit to the finance sector, population, internet users and bank branches positively influence the no. of depositors in these economies. Gross domestic product (GDP) and domestic credit to private sector (DCPS) inversely affected FI. Results of the second measure of FI (ATM per user) show the exchange rate of domestic credit to the private sector, and GDP positively influences FI. These findings will induce policymakers to take corrective actions by considering the significant factors to boost FI in respective BRICS economies.

Nexus between FDI and globalization-led energy diversification in BRICS: Fresh evidence from a newly constructed Energy diversification index

The motivation of the study is to gauge the role of foreign direct investment and globalization on energy diversification in BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) for the period 1985–2019 by utilizing a newly constructed energy diversification index. The study performed several econometrical tools such as both conventional and structural break unit root tests, long-run co-integration between variables investigative by performing the novel combined co-integration test, augmented autoregressive distributed lagged (AARDL) implemented for exploring long-run co-integration and explanatory variables coefficients on energy diversification both in the long-run and short-run and directional causality performed with Fourier TY causality test. Stationary tests established variables are integrated in mixed order, suggesting variables become stationary at a level or after the first difference but neither for the second difference. Combined co-integration and the AARDL test ascertained the long-run association in the empirical equation. Refers to long-run coefficients of FDI and GLO, it revealed a positive and statistically significant linkage with energy diversification. In addition, the causality test reveals directional effects between FDI, GLO and energy diversification index, but the direction differs from among economics. Furthermore, the study performed a robustness test by implementing dynamic OLS, fully modified OLS and CC regression. It is found to the sign of long-run coefficients, especially FDI and GLO, as in the same line of robust tests. On policy grounds, it is undoubtedly established that to ensure energy sustainability through energy source diversifications, the critical role of FDI and globalization have to grab with a serious note in BRICS nations.

Are emerging economies’ credit cycles synchronized? Fresh evidence from time–frequency analysis

PurposeTo the best of our knowledge, no study has examined credit cycle synchronizations in the context of emerging economies. Studying the credit cycles synchronization across BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) countries is crucial given the magnitude of trade and financial integration among member counties. The enormity of the trade and financial linkages among BRICS countries and growth spillovers from emerging economies to advanced and low-income countries provide the rationale and motivation to study the synchronization of credit cycles across BRICS.Design/methodology/approachThe study investigates the credit cycles coherence across BRICS economies from 1996Q2 to 2020Q4. The synchronization analysis is done using the noval wavelet approach. The analysis examines not only the coherence but also the extent of credit cycle synchronization that varies across frequencies and over time among different pairs of nations.FindingsThe authors find heterogeneity in the credit cycles' synchronization among the member nations. China and India are very much in sync with the other BRICS countries. China's high-frequency credit cycle mostly leads the other countries' credit cycles before the global financial crisis and shows a mix of lead/lag relationships post-financial crisis. Interestingly, most of the time, India's low-frequency credit cycles lead the member countries' credit cycles, and Brazil's low frequency credit cycle lag behind the other BRICS countries' credit cycles, except for Russia. The results are crucial from the macroprudential policymaker's perspective.Research limitations/implicationsThe empirical design is applicable to a similar set of countries and may not directly fit each emerging economy.Practical implicationsThe findings will help understand the marked deepening of trade, technology, investment and financial interdependence across the world. BRICS acronym requires no introduction, but such analysis may help understand the interaction at the monetary policy level.Originality/valueThis is the first study that highlights the need to understand the credit variable interactions for BRICS nations.

Deciphering the Status of Library and Information Science Research in BRICS Nations: A Research Visualization Approach

This paper aimed to evaluate the research trends in the discipline of library and information science (LIS) originating from the group of nations known as the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa). The Web of Science core collection database (WoSCC) has been used to extract the published data during the period 1989–2020. Furthermore, VoSviewer and Bibliometrix R package software have been employed for bibliometric analysis of data and data visualization. Results from data analysis indicate that China has the highest number of publications. There is a positive upward trend in scientific publications and citation patterns. Scientometrics is the most influential journal with the highest number of publications. Wuhan University is the most productive institution. Fourie I (n = 233) attains the first rank as the most prolific author based on the highest number of research publications. The overall collaboration rate of LIS publications among BRICS countries is moderate. Deep learning, machine learning, sentiment analysis, altmetrics, and artificial intelligence are the leading topics in LIS research among BRICS nations. The study will be of interest or helpful for researchers and professionals in the LIS research field who are interested in learning more about research trends in LIS in the BRICS nations.

Environmental Regulations and CO2 Mitigation for Sustainability: Panel Data Analysis (PMG, CCEMG) for BRICS Nations

The relationship between income and pollution is contested, yet wealth alone is insufficient to regulate emissions, which necessitates environmental regulations. Even if inadequate environmental laws may overcome market failures produced by pollution’s negative externality, a thorough examination of their function in pollution management is critical. This research takes a step forward in offering a fresh viewpoint on the function of environmental laws in pollution reduction for BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) nations to better understand the role of environmental regulations in CO2 emission mitigation. The research presented here uses panel data econometric methodologies to achieve this goal, using data from 1995 to 2018. In addition, to provide country-specific findings, the research employs a completely modified ordinary least squares estimator. Environmental laws provide a beneficial influence in reducing carbon emissions. According to the empirical findings, the present environmental regulation positively meets pollution reduction objectives in chosen nations. The environment Kuznets curve (EKC) between pollution and income is controlled by environmental restrictions. Climate change mitigation in BRICS nations is driven by strong environmental policies and economic growth.

The structural power of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) in multilateral development finance: A case study of the New Development Bank

The emergence of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) as an alternative force to the West has ignited a debate within the discipline of international political economy on the nature of the group’s rise. Global governance scholars either debate the role of the BRICS in transforming the world order (playing the game) or focus on the domestic sources of the BRICS nations’ preference formation (the position of states within the game). This article goes beyond the game-versus-player debate, by focusing on the structural power of the BRICS to ‘change the rules of the game’. The article investigates how the BRICS-created New Development Bank as an alternative circuit for actors to exchange goods in the area of development finance has been integrated into global governance. The article argues that the New Development Bank does not grant the BRICS the structural power needed to change the rules and norms that underpin the game.

An empirical investigation of N-11 countries as successors of BRICS using panel data modeling

PurposeFor more than four decades, persistent economic activities and a focused growth strategy resulted in significant infrastructural and other favorable economic and institutional changes in the world's developing nations. High-quality growth is not just a function of sound economic policies but also implementing a broad range of social policies. The BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) nations have proven their testimony on both these factors. Following their path are some other emerging economies like N-11 (or Next Eleven propounded by Goldman Sachs (2005) Report), which this present study tries to examine as successors of BRICS.Design/methodology/approachAlong with panel data regression modelling, the study has applied econometric procedures robust to heterogeneities across various nations and have been able to produce more reliable results that can be generalized for other similar groups of countries. 11 independent variables (both economic and institutional) have been used to meet the study's objective for a period of 34 years (1985–2018).FindingsThe findings of the study reveal that the governments of both the group of countries must work toward their macro-economic stability factors (external debt stocks), technological capabilities (mobile and fixed broadband subscriptions), human capital (health expenditure) and political conditions (mainly the rule of law) to enhance their sustainable economic growth.Research limitations/implicationsThis study enhances knowledge of the determinants of economic growth in emerging countries. Firms from BRICS and N-11 may better understand the factors influencing their internationalization process (both economic and institutional). The study is significant not just for the researchers but also for the policymakers of the BRICS and N-11 to understand in which areas their country is leading or lagging. The study is useful even for the policymakers of other emerging countries of the world who might take lessons from these nations (especially BRICS) and follow their success path. This study helps the governments of other groups of emerging countries such as PIN (Pakistan, Indonesia and Nigeria); MINT (Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey); CIVETS (Colombia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Egypt, Turkey and South Africa), etc. which can follow the path of BRICS economies in growth and formulate policies to increase their economic growth accordingly. At the enterprise level, it helps MNCs understand BRICS and N-11 markets and formulating entry and growth strategies in these most emerging countries of the world.Originality/valueThe present study is unique. It tries to investigate the projections of the Goldman Sachs report after 15 years of its release. It tries to determine the factors responsible for the economic development in the N-11 countries with advanced econometric techniques. Majorly, the focus is to comparatively analyze the growth trajectory for BRICS and N-11 nations and suggest whether N-11 has the potential to become successors of BRICS. A concentrated effort to examine the most significant drivers (both economic and institutional), which may lead to economic progression, has been made in this study.

Policy approaches on E-waste in the emerging economies: A review of the existing governance with special reference to India and South Africa

Abstract The stream of E-waste has observed a considerable intensification in the recent decade rendering its management a major challenge to the contemporary world. Considering the complexities associated with this toxic stream of waste, this paper is an attempt to review the existing E-waste governance in the emerging economies, taking into consideration the evidence and experiences of a number of representative countries. Emerging economies are instrumental in the growth and sustenance of the global economy today. However, certain issues such as the governance of E-waste is yet to be studied adequately in these countries and still remains an unexplored area of research. The BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) nations along with South Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, Turkey, Mexico are considered as representatives of the emerging countries. A systematic literature search has been carried out in Scopus and Web of Science to aid our study. A bibliometric analysis was carried out to situate the research scenario in India and South Africa in particular. We observe that the European Union’s landmark WEEE Directive and RoHS Directive have considerable influence on the policies of most of the emerging economies considered for our study purpose. We argue that it is imperative to have a local specific, systematic, organize and stepwise approach towards formulating and implementing the E-waste policies in the respective countries. The fact that, a few representatives from the well-known emerging economies are underrepresented in the E-waste research necessitates adequate attention from the scientific community and policymakers. Overall, it could be concluded that, barring a handful of representative countries, E-waste governance in the emerging economies are yet to be addressed comprehensively both by themselves and the global North.

A novel conformable fractional non-homogeneous grey model for forecasting carbon dioxide emissions of BRICS countries

Nowadays, climate change is one of the most important global issues to the international community. And nearly thirty kinds of greenhouse gases have been found in the atmosphere, of which the carbon dioxide plays a crucial role. In this paper, the carbon dioxide emissions of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) countries are investigated by using a conformable fractional non-homogeneous grey model. The grey model is systematically studied based on the new definitions of the conformable fractional accumulation and difference. The closed-form solutions of the new model are derived by applying mathematical tools and grey theory. And the meta-heuristic algorithm ant lion optimizer is adopted to search optimal fractional order. With raw data during the period from 2000 to 2018 announced by British Petroleum, the new model is established to forecast the carbon dioxide emissions of BRICS nations from 2019 to 2025. The results show that the trend of the carbon dioxide emissions of Brazil and India is growing year by year, the pattern of Russia is fluctuant but remains stable generally, while China and South Africa reach its peak value in 2019, and then decrease in the next several years. It also demonstrates that the governments of Brazil and India should take more measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, while the governments of China and South Africa should keep up their crucial work on carbon dioxide emissions.

Library and information science research in BRICS countries

PurposeThis paper aims to highlight the research output of library and information science of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) nations during the ten year period, i.e. 2005-2014, as reflected through the Web of Science database.Design/methodology/approachThis study used Social Science Index (SSCI) of Web of Science (WoS) citation database to collect data for the ten year period. All records indexed in SSCI were refined by subject area of “Information Science and Library Science” and selected countries. The downloaded results were analyzed by using specific parameters.FindingsWoS indexes different kinds of documents, such as articles, conference proceedings, biographical items, book reviews, corrections, editorial material, letters, reprints and reviews. Out of the BRICS output, almost 90 per cent of papers were articles. Other types of documents included conference papers, review papers and book reviews. China contributed nearly half of the documents followed by Brazil, South Africa, India and Russia. On an average, a document had cited 34 references. More than one-third of records did not receive any citations. It has been observed that the titles that had 11-16 words attracted the most number of citations. The top ten publishers in whose journals the researchers published included Emerald, Elsevier and Springer. The primary subject areas were information science and library science, information systems, interdisciplinary applications and management. About 85 per cent of the documents were published in English. Around 93 per cent of the non-English research publications were in Portuguese, the official language of Brazil.Originality/valueThere are not many studies on BRICS countries and that too about Library and Information Science (LIS) research output. This study may reveal insights into how LIS researchers interact with local and global issues in a specific spectrum of the world community.

Manufacturing resilience: An analysis of broadcast and Web-based news presentations of the 2014–2015 Russian economic downturn

This study aims to better understand how various Russian news outlets present stories pertaining to Russia’s recent economic downturn and future economic outlook. This study analysed over 1500 Russian broadcast TV and online news stories. Among its major findings are the following: (1) calls for Russia to diversify its economy by accelerating trade agreements and cooperation with Eurasian Economic Union and BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) nations, (2) presenting China as critical to Russia’s economic future, (3) presenting Russia’s economy as strong due to natural resources and (4) framing the United States negatively by calling for strategies to counter Western economic sanctions. Strategic and policy implications are discussed at length.

Can BRICS build ivory towers of excellence? Giving new meaning to world-class universities

This paper aims to map the landscape of higher education transformation in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) nations while exploring the status of BRICS nations in some of the global university rankings and analysing their potential to give new meaning to notions such as excellent and world-class universities. The study provides different theoretical perspectives about global university ranking and about the notion of ‘world-class/excellence’. Based on the literature exploration, the gathered data from some of the global university ranking agencies and the critical reflections from purposefully selected respondents, it is considered that the quest for world-class universities is articulated in several public policy documents of BRICS nations. While some attempts to achieve this quest vary (e.g. from China’s strong effort to India’s least effort), BRICS nations, like many other nations, seem to evolve towards this ambition, as universities have become the centre point of the development agenda. The ability of BRICS nations to provide new meaning to ‘world-class/excellence’ notions, although not clear, cannot be disputed given the indications that the BRICS bloc is emerging as an alternative economic force and the role higher education is playing in this emergence.