Spanish Ranking Research Articles

Assessment of the Results and Methodology of the Sustainable Development Index for Spanish Cities

In 2017, the United Nations adopted a global Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicator framework, calling on member countries to collect complementary national and regional indicators. Cities are crucial to channelling efforts towards sustainability through the use of these indicators. They provide an integrated approach to the city situation monitoring sustainability. However, more research is needed to understand how to adapt the goals, targets and indicators to specific municipal contexts. In 2020, the Spanish Sustainable Development Solutions Network launched the 2nd edition of the Spanish Cities Index. A set of 106 indicators allows for monitoring the implementation of the SDGs at the local level for Spanish cities. The objective is to perform a statistical audit to evaluate the consistency of the indicators and the impact of modelling assumptions on the result. The methodology used is an adaptation of the Handbook on Constructing Composite Indicator prepared by the European Commission. The indicator system is well balanced and covers the essential areas of the Sustainable Development Goals. The Spanish ranking is robust enough among the alternatives evaluated. However, some improvements are possible in the selection of indicators, e.g., removing redundant indicators and regional data. Finally, it is recommended to weigh goals based on municipal responsibility to adjust the results to the Spanish municipal context.

Behind league tables and ranking systems

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of university ranking systems as instruments of university quality assessment. Some controversy surrounds the methodology used to compile such instruments. Accordingly, different compilers have adopted different methods to produce these rankings. This study examines to what extent this diversity in methodology is now converging in the context of Spanish university rankings. Design/methodology/approach – To conduct this research, a two-step approach was adopted. First, the indicators used in four Spanish rankings were examined. Second, empirical analysis was used to identify differences between university rankings. Findings – Results reveal that, despite the vast number and variety of indicators, there is a positive, significant relationship between rankings. Spanish university rankings thus show some degree of convergence. Social implications – Because rankings influence behavior and shape institutional decision making, a better understanding of how these assessment tools are devised is essential. Research on these ranking systems therefore offers an important contribution to improving the quality of higher education institutions. Originality/value – This paper presents the results of a comprehensive survey of Spanish university rankings. It offers a new perspective of the state of the art of the Spanish university ranking system. The paper also presents a set of managerial implications for improving these benchmarking tools.

Análisis de las universidades colombianas de acuerdo con el ranking SCImago 2010-2012

RESUMENObjetivo. Analizar la clasificación de las universidades colombianas de acuerdo con el escalafón Iberoamericano SCImago Institutions Ranking (SIR) 2012. Materiales y métodos. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo que incluyó la productividad académica de cada universidad según SIR. También, se incluyeron las clasificaciones de 2010 y 2011 para analizar el progreso académico de las universidades. El análisis incluyó los siguientes indicadores: producción científica, colaboración internacional, calidad científica promedio, porcentaje de publicaciones en revistas del primer cuartil SJR y radio de excelencia. Resultados. Colombia ocupa el tercer lugar con 113 Universidades en Iberoamérica y el séptimo puesto con 7 universidades con más de 400 documentos. Sólo el 6.2% de las instituciones colombianas mantienen una producción científica competitiva frente al resto de las universidades Iberoamericanas. Las cinco primeras universidades colombianas con mayor productividad fueron: Nacional de Colombia, Antioquia, Andes, Valle y Javeriana. Las cinco primeras universidades del Caribe fueron: Norte, Cartagena, Córdoba, Magdalena y Sucre. Algunas universidades privadas como Antonio Nariño, el Bosque y la Escuela Colombiana de Ingenieria, a pesar de no estar dentro de los quince primeros puestos del pais, han hecho esfuerzos para mejorar los indicadores de calidad científica mediante publicaciones en revistas del primer cuartil y radio de excelencia. Conclusiones. Las clasificaciones que permiten comparar las IES a nivel mundial son importantes. Las IES de Colombia deben apostarle a la calidad usando al menos los cinco factores de SCImago. Aunque los rankings no obligan, ignorarlos significa autoaislamiento en un mundo cada día más globalizado

Cardiovascular Scientific Production in Spain and in the European and Global Context (2003-2007)

The publication of research articles has increased considerably in recent years in all biomedical fields. The present study examines the position of Spanish quality research in cardiology in the European and world context, and its evolution during the 5-year period 2003-2007. Using the Science Citation Index Expanded of Thomson Reuters as data source, we compared Spanish cardiovascular scientific production with that of the rest of countries in the European Union and of the most important countries worldwide, along with relative productivity as per number of inhabitants and Gross Domestic Product, and the number of citations in the journals of the <<Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems>> area of the Journal Citation Reports (CCS-JCR). Spain ranks sixth in the European Union and ninth worldwide in scientific production (tenth worldwide if only the journals of the first quartile of the CCS-JCR area are considered). As regards the number of citations received, Spain ranks seventh in the European Union and eleventh worldwide. In terms of relative productivity as per number of inhabitants and Gross Domestic Product, the Spanish ranking is less favorable (positions 15 and 18, respectively). The ranking of Spanish cardiovascular research is similar to that of other biomedical fields, though its position is less favorable in relation to certain demographic and economical indicators. In order to maintain adequate investigational levels, it is necessary for the European governments and scientific societies to regard the promotion of high-quality cardiological research as a priority concern.

Publishing performance of Spanish academics: 1970—2004

This work complements some of the results appearing in the article “Publishing Performance in Economics: Spanish Rankings” by Dolado et al. (Span Econ Rev 5: 80–103, 2003) Specifically we focus on the robustness of the results regardless of the time span considered, the effect of the choice of a particular database on the final results, and the effects on changes in the unit of institutional measure (departments vs. institutions as a whole). Differences are significant when we expand the time period considered. There are also significant but small differences if we combine datasets to derive the rankings. Finally, department rankings offer a more precise picture of the situation of the Spanish academics, although results do not differ substantially from those obtained when overall institutions are considered.

Publishing performance in economics: Spanish rankings (1990-1999)

This paper contributes to the growing literature that analyses the Spanish publishing performance in Economics throughout the 1990s. Several bibliometric indicators are used in order to provide Spanish rankings (of both institutions and individual authors) based on Econlit journals. Further, lists of the ten most influential authors and articles over that period, in terms of citations, are reported.

Publishing performance in economics: Spanish rankings (1990–1999)

Publishing performance in economics: Spanish rankings (1990–1999)