Prof. Dr. Tamás Mészáros, Rector

Prof. Dr. Tamás Mészáros

Rector, Corvinus University of Budapest

Babes-Bolyai University, 17-20 September 2009

University Rankings in Hungary- a possible method and its critical analysis -

3Prof. Dr. Tamás Mészáros, Rector

Motives of rankings

Higher Education as a separate industry of

the national economy (quality, efficiency,

competition)

Diversity in higher education

(profile, size, owners etc.)

Rankings, classifications

4Prof. Dr. Tamás Mészáros, Rector

Rankings I.

Well-known rankings worldwide :– Chiao Tung University;– The Times Higher Education Supplement ranking– Business Week – ranking of American Business Schools– Financial Times – management master programs, MBA

programs

5Prof. Dr. Tamás Mészáros, Rector

Rankings II.

Too many rankings => devaluationary impact => quality maintenance: – CEPES / European Center for Higher Education –

Bucarest + Institute for Higher Education Policy – Washington D.C. => IREG / International Ranking Expert Group 2004.

– Berlin Principles 2006.

6Prof. Dr. Tamás Mészáros, Rector

Classification

CEIHE – Classifying European Institutions for Higher Education– Multi-phase European project– Classifying system based on a new and selfmade

database– Project closure in 2009

7Prof. Dr. Tamás Mészáros, Rector

Hungarian situation I.

Higher education as a separate industry of the national economy– 400.000 students altogether – more than 10% of people

legally employed– 38.000 teachers and other employees => one of the

largest „company”– State subsidy totalled up to 1% of the national GDP– 60% of basic research projects linked to universities

8Prof. Dr. Tamás Mészáros, Rector

Hungarian situation II.

Diversity in Higher Education– Altogether 71 institutions, 29 of them are state-funded– 16% of students attend private and faith-based

institutions– The number of students enrolled to one institution vary

between 70 and 30.000– Diverse university profiles: different disciplines, similar

staff profile, small theological faculty

9Prof. Dr. Tamás Mészáros, Rector

Hungarian Ranking Database

Basic information provided by the institutions pooled by the Ministry of Culture and Education

Direct data collection of Educatio Ltd. and National Higher Education Information Center e.g. admission data

Data supplied by the National Scientific Student Council (results of scientific competitions)

Questionnaires filled by different representative groups (student’s evaluations, employee’s opinions etc)

Labour market research (advertisement analysis, interviewing employers)

10Prof. Dr. Tamás Mészáros, Rector

Hungarian university rankings

Fields of study (14) Selected courses

Faculty ranking

Student’s excellence Professor’s excellence

Absolute ranking of the 164 faculties

11Prof. Dr. Tamás Mészáros, Rector

Critical remarks Less attention on research activities Irrespective of actual diversity Untipical data provided by universities Lack of criteria important in international rankings

12Prof. Dr. Tamás Mészáros, Rector

GOOD NEWS: we are getting out of the economic crisis

The BAD NEWS is: nobody believes it!

13Prof. Dr. Tamás Mészáros, Rector

Thank You for Your Attention!