Unpacking the metrics: a critical analysis of the 2025 QS World University Rankings using Australian university data
Despite extensive critiques of university rankings highlighting their emphasis on reputation metrics over teaching quality and equity, empirical validation remains limited. This study addresses this gap by analysing relationships between QS World University Rankings indicators and overall scores for...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Education |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2025.1619897/full |
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| author | MD Badiuzzaman |
| author_facet | MD Badiuzzaman |
| author_sort | MD Badiuzzaman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Despite extensive critiques of university rankings highlighting their emphasis on reputation metrics over teaching quality and equity, empirical validation remains limited. This study addresses this gap by analysing relationships between QS World University Rankings indicators and overall scores for Australian universities (2025 dataset). Using correlational analyses on publicly available data, the findings identify Academic Reputation, Employer Reputation, and Employment Outcomes as influential metrics, while Faculty-to-Student Ratio and Sustainability show limited or negative correlations. Results further suggest systemic biases favouring larger, research-intensive institutions, potentially disadvantaging smaller or specialised universities regardless of academic quality. Although focused on the Australian higher education context, this research contributes timely empirical insights relevant globally. The findings inform university leaders, policymakers, and scholars, providing evidence to critically evaluate ranking methodologies and advocating for transparent, equitable, and pedagogically inclusive approaches to assessing institutional excellence. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0acd0c9fa4dc4520b0adfb9b5698de0e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2504-284X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Education |
| spelling | doaj-art-0acd0c9fa4dc4520b0adfb9b5698de0e2025-08-20T03:30:23ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Education2504-284X2025-07-011010.3389/feduc.2025.16198971619897Unpacking the metrics: a critical analysis of the 2025 QS World University Rankings using Australian university dataMD BadiuzzamanDespite extensive critiques of university rankings highlighting their emphasis on reputation metrics over teaching quality and equity, empirical validation remains limited. This study addresses this gap by analysing relationships between QS World University Rankings indicators and overall scores for Australian universities (2025 dataset). Using correlational analyses on publicly available data, the findings identify Academic Reputation, Employer Reputation, and Employment Outcomes as influential metrics, while Faculty-to-Student Ratio and Sustainability show limited or negative correlations. Results further suggest systemic biases favouring larger, research-intensive institutions, potentially disadvantaging smaller or specialised universities regardless of academic quality. Although focused on the Australian higher education context, this research contributes timely empirical insights relevant globally. The findings inform university leaders, policymakers, and scholars, providing evidence to critically evaluate ranking methodologies and advocating for transparent, equitable, and pedagogically inclusive approaches to assessing institutional excellence.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2025.1619897/fullacademic reputationAustralian universitieshigher education rankingsinstitutional performanceQS World University Rankings |
| spellingShingle | MD Badiuzzaman Unpacking the metrics: a critical analysis of the 2025 QS World University Rankings using Australian university data Frontiers in Education academic reputation Australian universities higher education rankings institutional performance QS World University Rankings |
| title | Unpacking the metrics: a critical analysis of the 2025 QS World University Rankings using Australian university data |
| title_full | Unpacking the metrics: a critical analysis of the 2025 QS World University Rankings using Australian university data |
| title_fullStr | Unpacking the metrics: a critical analysis of the 2025 QS World University Rankings using Australian university data |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unpacking the metrics: a critical analysis of the 2025 QS World University Rankings using Australian university data |
| title_short | Unpacking the metrics: a critical analysis of the 2025 QS World University Rankings using Australian university data |
| title_sort | unpacking the metrics a critical analysis of the 2025 qs world university rankings using australian university data |
| topic | academic reputation Australian universities higher education rankings institutional performance QS World University Rankings |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2025.1619897/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mdbadiuzzaman unpackingthemetricsacriticalanalysisofthe2025qsworlduniversityrankingsusingaustralianuniversitydata |