WEBINAR SERIES
E-QUADRAT SCIENCE & EDUCATION DIGEST

Our goal is to create a platform where educators and higher education enthusiasts can explore the complexities beyond just rankings. As data and evidence advocates, we recognize the usefulness of rankings as benchmarks, but we also understand their limitations when they become the sole focus.

Since our launch, we have hosted four enriching webinars that delve into important topics in higher education, featuring insightful discussions and expert perspectives. If you missed any of these sessions, we invite you to revisit them in this digest.

In 2023, a number of countries and universities opted out of the rankings game. This webinar sought to understand why by examining both the limitations of rankings, how they can best be utilised, and the motivations behind certain universities and countries opting out of rankings in 2023. It sought to understand the limitations of rankings, how they can be effectively utilised, and the implications for universities focusing on long-term growth rather than quick fixes to enhance their scientific reputation.

During the webinar, we explored the multifaceted effects of AEIs:

• The reasons behind opting out of rankings and the underlying causes
• The limitations of rankings and strategies to use them effectively
• Why the fastest routes to improving scientific reputation might not be ideal for universities
• The impact of rankings on teaching quality and the perception of humanities within university agendas
• Quality assurance as an alternative way of international recognition
• The role of communication in institutional development

The webinar emphasised the importance of looking beyond rankings to prioritise sustainable growth and comprehensive development. Key takeaways included the need for balanced strategies that consider teaching quality and the humanities, the effective use of communication to enhance institutional reputation, and the significance of a long-term, holistic approach to university growth over merely chasing ranking numbers.

A thoughtfully tailored strategy, rather than the pursuit of ranking positions, can set the university on the path to healthy growth. It can, if necessary, also result in progress in the rankings.

The second webinar in our Beyond Rankings series focused on Academic Excellence Initiatives (AEIs), examining their impact on universities and national higher education systems. Over the past two decades, numerous countries have implemented AEIs to elevate select universities' global visibility and competitive standing, often driven by aspirations to climb international university rankings.

During the webinar, we explored the multifaceted effects of AEIs:

• The original intentions behind AEIs
• The alignment of AEIs with global ranking ambitions
• The broader implications of AEIs for national higher education policies
• The variability of AEIs across different national contexts
• The extent to which AEIs transcend ranking metrics
• Lessons learned from global perspectives on academic excellence initiatives

The webinar concluded with insights highlighting the complexities surrounding AEIs, emphasising the delicate balance between achieving global academic prominence and nurturing diverse national educational objectives. Participants talked about AEIs' strategic impacts, contributing to ongoing conversations on enhancing higher education quality and international competitiveness without solely focusing on rankings.

Academic Excellence Initiatives (AEIs) are beneficial mostly when they focus on national and institutional goals, reducing the role of rankings and other measures to that of benchmarks.

This webinar focused on France’s Academic Excellence Initiative (AEI), led by Dr. Andrée Sursock, Senior Advisor of the European University Association. We discussed the historical context of French higher education, tracing its evolution from the Middle Ages to the present highlighting significant milestones, such as the 2007 law extending university autonomy and the 2010 launch of the AEI designed to enhance research excellence and international visibility.

Key points included:

• Establishment of the Napoleonic University system in France
• Creation of national research organizations like CNRS
• Legislative changes aimed at increasing university autonomy
• Exploration of whether excellence policies and funding concentration effectively drive change in higher education
• Pros and cons of university mergers, with examples from French universities
• Analysis of the broader implications of mergers for the higher education system

Dr. Sursock emphasized that while some mergers have succeeded, others remain a work in progress. Key conditions for success include clear academic value, realistic business models, shared risk management, and strong political and economic support. The session underscored that while initiatives like AEIs can catalyse significant change, they must be carefully planned and executed to avoid fragmentation and ensure meaningful improvement. Effective communication, strategic alignment, and stakeholder engagement are crucial for the success of such initiatives.

Increased funding of a few leading universities to grow them as national champions is beneficial if your system is well-funded overall. If it is not, such a concentration of funds can be disastrous.

Our fourth webinar series explored the critical topic of publication ethics in higher education, focusing on how ethical considerations can reshape university structures. Amid recent scandals, such as data falsification cases involving prominent academics, the discussion emphasised that ethical breaches reflect deeper systemic issues, exacerbated by the drive to climb global rankings and the resulting international scrutiny.

The webinar delved into the transformative impact of technology, particularly AI and big data, on publication ethics. Dr. Walker Trimble emphasized the critical need for universities to embed ethics into their general strategies for research, academic life, and science communication. Key points discussed included:

The session highlighted the necessity for universities to adapt to technological advancements while upholding rigorous ethical standards in academic research and publication practices. In conclusion, Dr. Trimble underscored the need for universities to adopt sustainable and ethically sound policies. Echoing philosopher Luciano Floridi's insight that no information is ever truly 'raw', he challenged universities to consider the broader ethical foundations of knowledge and innovation. By integrating ethics into their core strategies, universities can better navigate present and future challenges, ensuring their contributions to science and society are both innovative and ethically responsible.

Academic ethics are no longer merely a question of individual choices. As science signifies progress, scholars and their work become markers of institutional and national status.