23. Jan 2024 at 6:20 I
Slovakia’s Position in Global University Rankings
Slovak universities occasionally break into the top 1000 in global rankings, yet they have yet to breach the top 500. The stringent criteria required to secure top positions present a significant challenge for smaller universities within Slovakia.
Despite this, it is worth noting that universities of comparable size in neighboring countries have managed to outperform their Slovak counterparts. Among Slovak universities, Comenius University has consistently achieved the most favorable rankings on the global stage.
Dominance of American and British Universities
Various prestigious university rankings exist worldwide, including the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU or Shanghai Ranking), Times Higher Education (Times) World University Rankings, Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings, and SCImago Institution Ranking.
Typically, the top spots in these rankings are dominated by American and British institutions such as Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stanford University, and the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge.
The Education Policy Institute annually assesses the average ranking of the leading Slovak university in the ARWU, OS, and Times rankings. In 2022, it secured the 784th position, fluctuating between 651st and 835th places in 2015 and 2021.
Renata Hall, a university education expert, emphasized the importance of understanding the methodologies behind each ranking system. For instance, QS and Times rankings heavily consider a university’s reputation and visibility.