|
Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Oliver
Joined: 19 Apr 2008
Location: Seoul, Korea
|
 Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 7:35 am Post subject: |
 |
|
| anynag wrote: |
| Oliver wrote: |
| Any serious student, scholar or institution would refer to an accurate and reliable ranking system such as the Times. The one that Zappadelta posted caanot be taken seriously as a ranking system. It's main indicator, it seems, is based on web presence of an institution. |
The University of North Texas ranked 182nd globally, according to webometrics. US News & World Report lists it as a tier 4 school in the US. No idea what the Times would rank UNT at, since their list only shows the top 200.
Regardless, I agree that ranking systems shouldn't be trusted. A strong department (or even mentor or adviser) within a 'mediocre' university can prepare a student well for the professional world beyond graduation. |
The Times actually ranks Universities, in the UK at least, by department as well. So where the Times may rank a University 100th overall it may also rank a particular department as 2nd.
I don't think rankings shouldn't be trusted. They should be looked at as a general guide to a Universities performance. Good guides such as the Times should be referred to. They use a strict methodology which reflects well a Universities overall performance.
It's true, an individual 'mediocare' University, as you put it, may have a great department. That's an important thing to consider when making your decision. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Oliver
Joined: 19 Apr 2008
Location: Seoul, Korea
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 7:41 am Post subject: |
|
|
Anyway the point I'm making is that the 'Webometrics' ranking appears methodology unsound. It dramatically underestimates the standard of Korean Universities because it misses out key measures of performance. By comparing Webometrics rankings with the widely respected Times rankings we can see just how poor a system Webometrics is.
For example, according to Webometrics Seoul National University is 185th in the world. This compares to the Times ranking of 47th. Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology is ranked at 208 by Webometrics. The Times ranks it at 69th best in the world.
Pohang University of Science and Technology is the worlds 370th best University according to Webometrics. The Times ranks it at 134th.
Webometrics ranks Yonsei at 428. The Times, by comparison ranks it at 151.
Looking at the Times rankings South Korean Universities are among the worlds best. Less so with the Webometrics ranking system which this thread originally refers to. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Konglishman
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Location: Nanjing
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 10:19 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Oliver wrote: |
| anynag wrote: |
| Oliver wrote: |
| Any serious student, scholar or institution would refer to an accurate and reliable ranking system such as the Times. The one that Zappadelta posted caanot be taken seriously as a ranking system. It's main indicator, it seems, is based on web presence of an institution. |
The University of North Texas ranked 182nd globally, according to webometrics. US News & World Report lists it as a tier 4 school in the US. No idea what the Times would rank UNT at, since their list only shows the top 200.
Regardless, I agree that ranking systems shouldn't be trusted. A strong department (or even mentor or adviser) within a 'mediocre' university can prepare a student well for the professional world beyond graduation. |
The Times actually ranks Universities, in the UK at least, by department as well. So where the Times may rank a University 100th overall it may also rank a particular department as 2nd.
I don't think rankings shouldn't be trusted. They should be looked at as a general guide to a Universities performance. Good guides such as the Times should be referred to. They use a strict methodology which reflects well a Universities overall performance.
It's true, an individual 'mediocare' University, as you put it, may have a great department. That's an important thing to consider when making your decision. |
And its even possible that a mediocre department could have a professor doing outstanding research. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
hajima 99
Joined: 13 Jun 2009
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 10:25 am Post subject: |
|
|
I wouldn't regard any ranking which utilizes "web indicators" as its primary criteria, as an accurate reflection of the academic strength of a university. That's pretty silly if you ask me. Just perusing the ranking of universities within my home country for example in the OP's link, revealed some pretty comical results.
'The Times' utilizes a far more thorough and sensical methodology, as had been pointed out by another poster.
This is my favorite site (it uses The Times results, and also allows you to filter your search by country, year etc.): http://www.topuniversities.com/world-university-rankings |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ponyo
Joined: 27 Nov 2009
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 3:55 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Oliver wrote: |
Any serious student, scholar or institution would refer to an accurate and reliable ranking system such as the Times. The one that Zappadelta posted cannot be taken seriously as a ranking system. It's main indicator, it seems, is based on web presence of an institution. That says nothing about teaching and research quality or level of expertise in a particular area.
If I were to choose a University I want to know that my teachers know what they are talking about. I also want to know it has world class resources in my given area. The website which Zappadelta refers to says nothing of these. |
i'm not so sure how unbiased these rankings are. for example, the Times is a UK organization, and lo and behold, 5 of the top 10 universities are in the UK, according to their criteria.
also, the ranking system posted by the OP ranks universities on the amount of scholarly information exchanged on the internet. this is not a ranking of academics, per se. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Oliver
Joined: 19 Apr 2008
Location: Seoul, Korea
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 4:08 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| ponyo wrote: |
| Oliver wrote: |
Any serious student, scholar or institution would refer to an accurate and reliable ranking system such as the Times. The one that Zappadelta posted cannot be taken seriously as a ranking system. It's main indicator, it seems, is based on web presence of an institution. That says nothing about teaching and research quality or level of expertise in a particular area.
If I were to choose a University I want to know that my teachers know what they are talking about. I also want to know it has world class resources in my given area. The website which Zappadelta refers to says nothing of these. |
i'm not so sure how unbiased these rankings are. for example, the Times is a UK organization, and lo and behold, 5 of the top 10 universities are in the UK, according to their criteria.
also, the ranking system posted by the OP ranks universities on the amount of scholarly information exchanged on the internet. this is not a ranking of academics, per se. |
The Times Ranking system was made in conjunction with Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) which was founed by Wharton Business School at The University of Pennsylvania, in the USA.
Anyway, that is irrelevant. The point I am making is that the Times/QS system ranks Korean Universities higher than the OP's website. The reasons why have been discussed. These reasons cover the second point that you make. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
