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In two recently published articles, Ellen Hazelorn assesses the “new generation” of rankings which focus on specific themes that rankers see as central to global realities. Since global rankings first appeared in 2004, the world has changed considerably. Are traditional rankings still relevant in today’s world?

Lebanon has launched a five-year higher education plan for 2023 to 2027 that aims to strengthen universities’ social responsibility and competitiveness as well as producing industry and market-ready graduates, along with establishing a knowledge-based economy and achieving sustainable development.

BH Associates, at the request of UNESCO and the Ministry of Higher Education (MEHE), Lebanon, advised on the (a) Development of a Higher Education Sector Plan for 2023-2027 and (b) Supported MEHE in developing its Higher Education Policy. Developing a Higher Education Management Information System (HEMIS) and SDG4 Strategies are essential pillars of the Policy.  

The Launch was held on 23 January 2023.

BH Associates will continue their work, as UNESCO-appointed experts, to strengthen the National Accreditation Framework of St Kitts-Nevis for reviewing and approving higher-level qualifications in the post-secondary sector.

Ellen Hazelkorn’s podcast on university rankings was the top podcast of the European Association of International Education (EAIE) for 2022.

In May 2022, the Irish Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) launched a “policy vision for a more unified tertiary education and research system…as part of the mission to develop Ireland’s higher and further education and research and innovation systems, to ensure they are capable of meeting the diverse needs of all people.”

Tom Boland and Ellen Hazelkorn have been appointed to advise the Minister and his Department and to support the next phase of this process.

Read Ellen Hazelkorn’s article: “How well do universities collaborate to build democratic inclusive societies?” in IAU Horizons 27:2, the newsmagazine of the International Association of Universities.

n an article in The Leader, published by the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (Ireland), Tom Boland and Ellen Hazelkorn argued that schools play a pivotal role in influencing post-secondary school choices. It is time to ask schools, and especially school leaders, to challenge societal prejudice and encourage a broader look at tertiary education options. This includes encouraging more students to consider further education and training opportunities.

This article reviews key trends with implications for the future direction of higher education in Ireland, including developments at the EU level. The implications are discussed with a particular focus on issues potentially impacting on the sustainability and performance of higher education institutions, and those that appear to create significant opportunities for the sector. Arising from this assessment, propositions are set out to provoke a debate.

Ireland needs a comprehensive, well co-ordinated and resourced tertiary education system if we are to provide for the wide range of skills that our society and economy needs. The key to achieving this lies in creating a better balance between further education and training (FET) and higher education (HE) – an outcome that may require radical action.

There is a growing cluster of rankings and frameworks focused on engagement themes or which emphasise higher education’s social, cultural and economic impact and value for their communities. More recently rankings have begun to focus on sustainability.

The fourth edition of the THE Impact Rankings was released recently. Ultimately, the real value of THE Impact Rankings is the data it collects. As the era of self-regulation for Big Tech nears an end, similar questions about data ownership, governance and regulation must be asked of rankings, publishing and data analytics conglomerates.

See article by Ellen Hazelkorn in University World News, 30 April 2022
https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20220429114637871

On 4 April BH Associates is holding a Seminar in the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) to launch its paper, Strengthening the Sustainability, Quality and Competitiveness of Irish Higher Education: Trends and Propositions to Provoke Debate.

Professor Michael Murphy, President of the EUA and Emeritus President of UCC, will deliver a keynote address.

Registration is now open via Eventbrite. A link to the paper is attached here

We look forward to seeing you in person. Please note, this event will not be online.

Further information from BH Associates, info@bhassociates.eu

BH Associates was asked by UNESCO to help write a Higher Education Policy and 5-Year Plan for Lebanon.

The Minister for Education and Higher Education, H.E. Dr Abbas Halabi, launched the Policy and Plan on 2 March 2022 in Beirut.

Ellen Hazelkorn was the UNESCO Expert on Higher Education/UNESCO Lead Consultant for developing the 5-Year Plan for HE in Lebanon.

On 4 April BH Associates will launch Strengthening the Sustainability, Quality and Competitiveness of Irish Higher Education: Policy Options in which we will put forward a set of propositions to bolster the higher education system.

Professor Michael Murphy, President of the EUA and Emeritus President of UCC, will deliver a keynote address.

Registration is now open.

Every year, university leaders around the world anxiously await the publication of the latest university rankings. Whether their institutions improved their performance and gained positions, will determine their success (or failure) as administrators.

Ellen Hazelkorn spoke about university rankings to the European Association of International Education. Listen to the podcast. https://www.eaie.org/blog/podcast-ellen-hazelkorn-university-rankings.html

On 18 January, the EU went even further when it published the European Strategy for Universities and the Council Recommendation on Building Bridges for Effective European Higher Education Cooperation, along with the Staff Working Document. Today the European Higher Education Area and the European Research Area comprise close to 5,000 higher education institutions, 17.5 million students, 1.35 million academics and 1.17 million researchers.

Ellen Hazelkorn explains the significance of the European Union’s strategy and support for higher education.

On the eve of their 20th anniversary, the Research Handbook on University Rankings: Theory, methodology, influence and impact – in 37 chapters – provides a comprehensive review and analysis of their influence and impact.

Ellen Hazelkorn explains the significance, influence and shortcomings of university rankings.

Ellen Hazelkorn has been appointed to the Higher Education for Smart Specialisation (HESS) advisory group of the European Commission, Joint Research Council. The JRC has been the home for the Smart Specialisation Platform.

The Research Handbook on University Rankings. Theory, Methodology, Influence and Impact, edited by Ellen Hazelkorn of BH Associates, with Georgiana Mihut, was published on 15 December 2021.

The Research Handbook is a major contribution to our understanding of rankings and putting them into context, theoretically and in terms of policy.

Higher education researchers, policy and decision makers as well as rankings followers will find the critical insights into globalisation and geopolitics, quality assurance, international comparability and assessment, and student outcomes and learning in this Research Handbook interesting.

BH Associates were asked to undertake a review of the Accreditation Board of St. Kitts and Nevis. The Review and Assessment of the Current Accreditation System of St. Kitts-Nevis and Recommendations to Improve Overall Accreditation Related Policies and Procedures was officially handed over to the Minister, Cons. Jonel Powell, was held on Monday, 15 November 2021.