Overview

The concept of university rankings is rapidly becoming one of the most important tools used by both students and academic professionals across the world. Universities use them to define their performance, professional reputation and status, whilst students use them to choose their future place of study and research. What originated as a consumer product aimed at undergraduate domestic students has now become both a manifestation and a driver of global competition and a battle for excellence in itself.

The European Commission launched U-Multirank in Spring 2014, an initiative aimed at becoming a nuanced tool for students and institutions in the contentious field of global rankings. The second edition of the U-Multirank rankings comparing five performance areas — teaching and learning; research; knowledge transfer; international orientation; and regional engagement - was published in March 2015. It includes 1,200 higher education institutions, with nearly 700 fully participating in U-multirank.

Press release: U-Multirank releases second global university rankings: Showcases diversity of university performance with largest global ranking
Read more on the U-multirank website

This annual international symposium, now in its seventh year, will assess the challenges that lie ahead in creating and maintaining comprehensive and user-friendly systems for ranking universities. Indicators and data collection are key areas which need to be addressed and explored through an integrated and joined-up approach under the guidance of the European Commission. The symposium offers an invaluable opportunity to discuss the dynamics between international rankings and national initiatives developed in various countries, collaborate and communicate strategies and share best practices.