Many universities recognize the benefits of being included in our ranking system. As previously highlighted, there has been a noticeable trend in the number of universities joining our rankings. The question arises: why are an increasing number of institutions worldwide opting to engage in this process?
One motivating factor could be the impact on reputation. Our data indicates that universities featured in our rankings typically maintain a strong reputation over time. Conversely, those institutions that have never participated or have withdrawn from the rankings tend to experience a significant decline in their reputations over time. This reputation is primarily determined by the universities’ positions in the latest rankings, which are in turn based on various performance indicators.
A similar pattern emerges when examining the Impact Rankings: universities listed in the 2023 edition demonstrate robust reputations. Those universities that engaged in previous editions but did not participate in the latest one exhibit a slightly lower average reputation, with a minor decrease over time. However, universities that have never taken part in the rankings show a substantial decline in their reputational standing.
One might argue that these findings are inherently biased due to our survey sample. However, unlike other ranking providers, we do not rely on universities to distribute surveys (as this approach could be easily manipulated). Instead, we reach out to millions of cited academics from our independent database, regardless of their institutions’ ranking status. This methodology ensures that our reputation results offer a comprehensive reflection of all universities.
Taking a longitudinal view, we have investigated whether exiting the World University Rankings (WUR) leads to a subsequent decline in reputation rankings. Universities voluntarily provide data to THE annually for ranking purposes; failure to submit data results in exclusion from the rankings. While the number of universities withdrawing from the WUR is limited, those that have done so show evidence of reputational decline. For instance, the 12 universities that withdrew from the WUR between 2017 and 2020 experienced an average drop of 215 places in the World Reputation Rankings within three years of their departure.
A positive reputation not only attracts students and faculty, secures funding, and enhances graduate employability but also elevates an institution’s prestige and global impact. While multiple factors contribute to a university’s standing, a clear correlation emerges between participation in THE’s rankings and the maintenance of a favorable reputation.
David Watkins, the managing director of data science, and Mark Caddow, a senior data scientist, both at Times Higher Education, authored this piece.
For inquiries about participation in our surveys, please email . The deadline for submissions is 30 March. To engage in our rankings, please email .