World-class Universities Research Articles

“Where to Publish?” Avoiding Mediocrity for Academic Staff Promotion at the University of Dar es Salaam

Abstract Does “where to publish” affect academic staff promotion outcome? Using rational choice theory and the University of Dar es Salaam as case study, this article analyses the law and practice associated with academic staff promotion regarding “where to publish”. The article finds that the University has relatively well elaborate and adequate promotion guidelines and institutional frameworks to guide on “where to publish” in line with its vision of becoming a world-class university. Nonetheless, through series of workshops with staff and heads of department as well as interviews with the University management, it was observed that there is still little understanding of “where to publish” among staff although the situation is progressively changing. Some staff prefer predatory journals due to ignorance, frequent failures and lack of confidence to publish in credible journals. Consequently, the annual promotion rate remains low suggesting high rejection of publications by the University due to predatory nature of media of publication and failure by majority staff to publish.

The Relevance of the German Excellence Initiative for Inequality in University Funding

The Excellence Initiative was the largest competitive funding procedure to create German world-class universities and overcome the traditional Humboldtian homogenization of German higher education. This paper examines whether the Excellence Initiative has spurred financial inequality in the national higher education sector. For a period of 15 years, we analyze the third-party funding success of 78 universities that were either winning or losing in the competition. We find that the Excellence Initiative augmented pre-existing differences in third-party funding across institutions. However, this is a one-off level effect that does not initiate a further self-reinforcing divergence process as would be suggested by Matthew effects.

The convergence of the concepts of academic and inclusive excellence at research universities

Introduction. In the 21st century, there is an active involvement of universities in inclusive processes; however, against the backdrop of increasing diversity, new types of inequality arise in higher education. The processes of transformation of organisational cultures in universities and their research agenda under the influence of inclusion need to be studied.The aimof the present research was to analyse the convergence of concepts of academic and inclusive excellence in foreign universities of the world level, the impact of convergence on their missions, the values expressed in official strategies, the research agenda and the infrastructure of scientific collaborations.Methodology and research methods. The authors conducted a content analysis of three strategies of world-class University associations (the Association of American Colleges and Universities, the Association of Universities in Canada, the League of European Research Universities), nine strategies for the development of universities in the USA and Canada, the European Union, and Australia. A scientometric analysis of Web of Science metadata was performed using the VOSViewer software.Results and scientific novelty. The current research confirms the convergence of values of academic excellence and inclusion in research universities. It is revealed that the concept of inclusive excellence of the university is an enriched version of its academic excellence and denotes a set of university strategies and practices aimed at achieving the best results in training, research and services through maintaining diversity and inclusive processes. The world's leading universities are actively involved in the process of creating an inclusive friendly environment and services, which are accessible to all members of the educational process, regardless of their social status and development characteristics. When universities reach academic heights, they recognise inclusion as the next level of their development. In turn, inclusion becomes a factor in the movement of the university towards academic excellence. The key characteristics and contradictions of the convergence of the concepts of inclusive and academic excellence of universities are identified. The local models of inclusive excellence of universities and the contexts, which influence these models, are described. The gaps between educational policies and research agendas of leading universities are revealed. The clusters of international studies on inclusive processes in higher education are highlighted.Practical significance. Russian universities, which implement the federal programme for improvement of international competitiveness based on the values of academic excellence, are developing in accordance with global trends. Therefore, the model of inclusive excellence of the university can be used in practical terms to implement inclusive strategies and overcome social inequality both at the university and outside of it within the framework of a new educational initiative of Russia on academic leadership.

Systematic Evaluation Model for Developing Sustainable World-Class Universities: An East Asian Perspective

Due to the unbalance between Asian and Western countries in terms of higher education development and pressure from global competition, universities in several East Asian countries have striven to become world-class universities (WCUs) by actively assessing themselves using various global ranking systems and subsequently investing in key performance indicators. Numerous scholars have suggested that for these East Asian catch-up universities (EACUs), independently improving the elements related to high-weight indicators could produce short-term increases in ranking performance; however, this approach is not conducive to sustainable development. In addition, little is currently understood regarding sustainable development strategies for developing EACUs into WCUs. This study proposes a systematic evaluation model for self-assessment and the creation of strategies to transform EACUs into sustainable WCUs. The fuzzy Delphi method was used to determine criteria for a new evaluation framework, and the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory method was employed to construct the influential relationships among the criteria. Two cases were then selected to demonstrate the superiority of the model for creating sustainable development strategies for EACUs. This study provides a systematic perspective and a useful tool for decision-makers at EACUs to achieve sustainable development goals.

A Survey on the Effectiveness of Online Teaching–Learning Methods for University and College Students

Online teaching–learning methods have been followed by world-class universities for more than a decade to cater to the needs of students who stay far away from universities/colleges. But during the COVID-19 pandemic period, online teaching–learning helped almost all universities, colleges, and affiliated students. An attempt is made to find the effectiveness of online teaching–learning methods for university and college students by conducting an online survey. A questionnaire has been specially designed and deployed among university and college students. About 450 students from various universities, engineering colleges, medical colleges in South India have taken part in the survey and submitted responses. It was found that the following methods promote effective online learning: animations, digital collaborations with peers, video lectures delivered by faculty handling the subject, online quiz having multiple-choice questions, availability of student version software, a conducive environment at home, interactions by the faculty during lectures and online materials provided by the faculty. Moreover, online classes are more effective because they provide PPTs in front of every student, lectures are heard by all students at the sound level of their choice, and walking/travel to reach classes is eliminated.

ANALYSIS OF PTKIN OPPORTUNITIES: QUALITY MEASUREMENT THROUGH THE MALCOLM BALDRIGE CRITERIA FOR USING THE WORLD CLASS UNIVERSTY

This study analyzes the opportunity for PTKIN to reach World Class University using criteria, especially at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta. The quality of an educational institution needs to be continuously improved (continuous improvement) to increase competitiveness. The research used a qualitative approach to the type of case study. Data collection techniques were carried out through; observation, interview and documentation. Furthermore, the research data is presented in a descriptive narrative form. The results of the study show that the accreditation is A (the highest score), but if it is measured or assessed by international standards EdPEx may only get a score in the interval 476 - 575, so that internationally it is categorized as a Good Performance University, yet it has NOT reached the World Class University. Improved by using a new standard to reach a world class university, Malcolm Baldrige is an international standard quality audit that is ready to fight the changing times. Malcolm Baldrige developed a flexible and creative approach in line with the needs of organization, especially the State Islamic Religious College.

Tungku Tigo Sajarangan, Tali Tigo Sapilin: A Strategy Towards World Class University Based on Local Wisdom Perspective

This study aims to analyze and describe Tungku Tigo Sajarangan, Tali Tigo Sapilin as an indicator to achieve a world-class university. Descriptive qualitative research methods were used to answer this objective by conducting several procedures such as interviews with the cultural expert of Minangkabau, interviews with the educational experts, direct observation of learning activities in the university, and study the scientific literature. Thematic content analysis was used to find informative descriptions of the data obtained. The results showed that the concept of leadership, customs, and local wisdom originating from Minangkabau culture could become an alternative framework and a formula for the realm of education especially for the universities to become a world-class university. The steps for implementing Tungku Tigo Sajarangan, Tali Tigo Sapilin include four stages namely preparation, implementation, post-implementation, and evaluation.

Only one way to be a world-class university? Comparative analysis on the texts and visual images on websites of universities in China and South Korea

ABSTRACT With the ubiquity of the internet in every domain of life, university websites are considered an effective tool to create institutional image and communicate with internal and external constituents. Focusing on websites of four universities in China and South Korea who seek to become World-class universities, this study examined how these universities portray themselves using texts and visual images on their websites. Utilizing Fairclough’s three-dimensional critical discourse analysis, we found that all universities similarly used texts presenting their world-class status, and pictures showing their international engagement and research accomplishments. In spite of the different institutional and national settings and languages used (national versus English-language websites), little differences in the texts and visual images were found. Implications for the current discussion on WCUs and future research are elaborated.

What Can Influence the Quality of International Collaborative Publications: A Case Study of Humanities and Social Sciences International Collaboration in China’s Double First-Class Project Universities

International collaboration is one of the effective ways to enhance the impact of scientific research papers. In this research, international research collaboration papers published by world-class universities in the field of humanities and social sciences from 2015 to 2019 were selected as the research object, and the effective enhancement of the impact of international research collaboration papers was found to not be dependent on expanding the scale of international research collaboration, but rather on selecting researchers with different international backgrounds and from high-level institutions for collaboration. It was also discovered that, in the field of humanities and social sciences, despite a relatively low proportion of international research collaboration papers being led by Chinese scholars, the Chinese research is characterized by a higher impact compared with the research led by non-Chinese scholars. In light of this, a series of proactive measures should be taken by China’s world-class universities, such as actively participating in and initiating international collaboration, selecting high-level research collaborators, and attracting scholars from different countries to engage in research collaboration in the field of humanities and social sciences.

Critical Analysis of Development and Management of Higher Education in India

History of Indian education dates back to over 5,000 years. Education in the Vedic and Muslim periods was found to be based on religion while the Buddhist period gave world-class universities. In the British period, education oscillated between being a central subject and a provincial subject. The Constitution of India placed education as a state subject, which was later transferred to the Concurrent List in 1976. But due to lack of coordination between the centre and state governments, the higher education system is found to be in a critical state. Further, there is significant disparity in funds allocation to central and state universities by the central regulator, UGC, which further worsens the situation. The current system can work, if the centre makes the law with a broader view and leaves the states with enough power to customise it. There is need to establish State Education Councils in every state to better assess the need of state universities and recommend/allocate the funds accordingly.

Critical Analysis of Development and Management of Higher Education in India

History of Indian education dates back to over 5,000 years. Education in the Vedic and Muslim periods was found to be based on religion while the Buddhist period gave world-class universities. In the British period, education oscillated between being a central subject and a provincial subject. The Constitution of India placed education as a state subject, which was later transferred to the Concurrent List in 1976. But due to lack of coordination between the centre and state governments, the higher education system is found to be in a critical state. Further, there is significant disparity in funds allocation to central and state universities by the central regulator, UGC, which further worsens the situation. The current system can work, if the centre makes the law with a broader view and leaves the states with enough power to customise it. There is need to establish State Education Councils in every state to better assess the need of state universities and recommend/allocate the funds accordingly.

Moscow International University Ranking: critical review and geopolitical effects

The Moscow International University Ranking (MosIUR) is a global university ranking launched in 2017 with the intention of evaluating universities by considering three essential dimensions (education, research, and knowledge transfer). This ranking was designed and developed by the Russian Union of Rectors following a direct request from President Vladimir Putin. The objective of this work is to perform a threefold analysis of this ranking. First, a methodological analysis is carried out, focused on describing the nature of the indicators and sources employed. Second, a geopolitical analysis aims to determine how countries are represented in this new global ranking. Third, a webometric analysis is done, focused on the online visibility of the ranking. The results reveal MosIUR to be a ranking with an outstanding number of webometric indicators and clearly oriented towards transference to society. However, some methodological concerns arise regarding a few metrics. The geopolitical position of developed countries is similar to that in other global rankings, but slight differences emerge, such as the stronger presence of Russian universities. The cybermetric analysis confirms that, despite being international, this ranking is strongly limited to Russia. It can be concluded that, except for the palpable predominance of the USA, each ranking tends to place universities from their own country in a better position. The creation of MosIUR by the Russian government can thus be perceived as a political strategy to improve the reputation of Russian universities, increase funding, and accelerate their transformation into world-class universities.

Career advancement comparative perspective study of university lecturer

Globalization and international standard universities trend drive the higher education system to become more dynamic and innovative. The lecturer is a profession that drives and encourages university competitiveness. Therefore, better career advancement and development are vital in encouraging higher education competitiveness. The United States of America (USA) is currently a world-class university orientation, followed by Australia. Hence, other countries, especially developing countries, should know the USA and Australia higher education system, especially in the lecturers’ career advancement and development. This study is necessary to answer research questions about comparing academic career advancement systems in the USA and Australia. This study will give other countries new insight into academic career advancement. The researchers apply the findings from a systematic review. This study focuses on six aspects discussed: regulations, educational qualifications, lecturer obligation status in the higher education, career ladder, career advancement stages, and the lecturers' duties also responsibilities in lecturer career advancement in the USA and Australia. This study examines the gap between lecturers' career advancement systems in the USA and Australia comprehensively. The researchers observe by analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of the lecturer career advancement system in the USA and Australia. Also, the researchers compare the results using comparative public administration theory.

Internationalization of Chinese Higher Education: Is It Westernization?

Internationalization has become a strategic policy priority for many Chinese higher education in the process of becoming world-class universities. However, there is little research focusing on students’ experiences of internationalization at home. This research investigates how Chinese undergraduates interpreted and experienced internationalization at a prestigious university in China. Data for the study were collected through policy document analysis, semi-structured interviews with students, and site visits. The results of the study reveal that students perceive internationalization as Westernization, question the prominence of English in the university’s internationalization in both formal and informal curricula, and raise concerns about unequal access to internationalization. The study interrogates the unidirectional orientation of internationalization between China and the developed Western world. It calls for an approach to the de-Westernization of internationalization, reclaiming indigenous Chinese epistemology, language, and culture. The findings have important implications for an alternative social imaginary of internationalization for researchers and policymakers.

The Improvement of Arabic Language Learning Program in Realizing the World Class University

Foreign language is one of the fundamental elements in creating the world class university. To realize a world class university, the excellent Arabic language learning program is necessary to meet the needs of international communication in the internal and external environment of the campus. This study aimed to explore and analyze the Arabic language learning program at UIN Maliki Malang. The research data were obtained from the interview with campus governance and direct observation of Arabic learning program activities and the documentation of strategic planning of Arabic language learning programs to create a world class university. The interviews were conducted with 10 people of campus institution governance. The results showed that Arabic language learning program in realizing a world class university is an implementation of the university's vision which is contained in the development of an integrated curriculum and ulul albab character. The curriculum is designed in the form of a "tree of knowledge" construction. To form solid scientific roots, linguistic strengthening is needed so that its branches and its twigs are strong too. Language strengthening is manifested in the form of the Special Arabic Language Class Program (PKPBA), Ma'had al-jami'ah program and intensive training for educators and educational staff. These findings indicate that the integration of Arabic language learning programs between internal campus institutions is a measure of success in realizing a world class university. The recommendation for further research was to measure the effectiveness of each program at UIN Maliki Malang.

The research-intensive university in a glonacal higher education system: the creation of the world-class university in China

ABSTRACT The paper employs a glonacal agency heuristic to explore how certain research-intensive Chinese universities exercise agency in response to global and national impacts in creating the world-class university. Two global forces (international scholarly discussions on the world-class university and global university rankings) and one national force (China’s Double First-Class Project) are considered. Through an in-depth document analysis of 41 Chinese research-intensive universities’ strategic plans, it is revealed that the universities have designed mainly three strategies to reply to the impacts. The first is to actively embrace global impacts, while looking for national supports for the embracement; the second is to partly draw on global forces while taking into account national considerations; and the third is to primarily draw on national forces while being minimally influenced by global forces. The three strategies point to possible ways for non-Western universities to balance global and national influences in their development, and reflect potential contributions of universities, as local organisational agencies, to global higher education.

Policy decoupling in strategic response to the double world-class project: evidence from elite universities in China

Creating world-class universities (WCUs) has recently become a significant policy and practice in higher education in China under the Double World-Class Project. However, some negative effects have encouraged decoupling from the policy goals. To identify the reasons, we conducted policy document analysis and purposive interviews at three elite universities, focusing on financial funding, discipline development, and human resources. First, the uneven funding plans by central and local governments shape non-competitive environments for universities, hindering the dynamic adjustment of the Double World-Class Project. Second, universities have closed or merged programs in weak academic disciplines to gain legitimacy and stability in conformance to WCU guidelines. Last, as a result of the unbalanced development of universities in east, middle, and west China, universities in the west are facing a serious brain drain. To achieve a higher level of performance, an increasing number of ‘shadow academics’ are being recruited by Chinese universities. These decoupling responses and manipulative strategies result from the dominating constituent in WCUs, ambiguity in policy contents, hierarchical control systems in higher education, and uncertain environments for universities.

Textual analysis of university mission statements in East Asian world-class universities

PurposeThe management of higher education institutions (HEIs) is undergoing a period of rapid development around the world and particularly in Asia. Competing forces of neoliberal decentralisation, increased government oversight, internationalisation and regionalism are creating difficulties for managers and stakeholders alike. This paper aims to look at the ways in which universities have institutionalised their strategies for coping with these forces, in the form of their mission statements (MSs), particularly within an East Asian context.Design/methodology/approachSeveral major international university ranking tables were used to compile a list of “world class” institutions in East Asia. Those with available MSs in English were examined for reference to factors existing within the literature, as well as those which were not previously identified.FindingsEast Asian universities placed a high degree of emphasis on aspects related to university management, as well as social, cultural and historical foci. Far less emphasis was placed on aspects such as engagement of stakeholders and inclusion.Originality/valueThe paper draws on previous research from other regions and attempts to provide some insights into the particularities of higher education in East Asia from a management perspective.

Efficiency measurements of Diponegoro University faculty using the Data Envelopment Analysis hierarchical network model

Diponegoro University (UNDIP) is a state university located in Semarang city. UNDIP is aiming to become a world-class university. To become a world-class university, UNDIP has to maintain its quality in academic, research, and community service. But UNDIP was facing some challenges, like has to compete with other universities that growing rapidly. To achieve the target, the efficiency of every faculty in UNDIP should be continuously monitored and improved. Measuring the overall efficiency of every faculty is the aim of this research. The samples used in this research were all faculty of undergraduate programs in UNDIP. The hierarchical network data envelopment analysis model measuring the efficiency level of every faculty at UNDIP for systems with a hierarchical structure. In this research, the input variables used were the number of lecturers, the number of students, and amount of operational expenses. While the output variables were the number of graduates, the number of researches, the number of publications, the number of researches, the number of guidance & consultation, and the number of activities. The results of this study would help the management of university especially the dean of faculty to identify the inefficiency at every faculty in UNDIP and then plan for improvement.

RETRACTED: Study of graduate attributes of the university of Sydney and implications for building Chinese world-class universities

The graduate attributes of the University of Sydney innovatively include the enabling conceptions and the translation conceptions of attributes and ensure that they are specifically oriented, reasonably structured and comprehensively designed. These scientifically constructed graduate attributes of the University of Sydney prove strong efficiency by the university taking up a high position in QS Graduate Employability Rankings in recent years. Chinese top-level universities, in the process of building world-class universities, also face the task of revising the graduate attributes and substantially enhancing the quality of talents cultivation, and can, therefore, learn the successful experience to revise their own graduate attributes on the basis of universities’ history, vision and specialty, on the premise of a sound cognition of the connotation, levels, and relationship of graduate attributes, and by means of System Theory, Phenomenography and comparative study.