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STAFF REPORTER
THE University of Cape Town (UCT) did not participate in the new Times Higher Education (THE) Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) ranking released last week.
In a statement, UCT notes concerns about the proliferation of rankings, particularly at a time when universities in many parts of the world are reducing their funding dramatically.
This is particularly true of institutions on the continent. Each new ranking increases the resources required to participate.
“While rankings can be useful as a benchmark and comparator, they can distract higher education institutions from focusing resources on their core business – which in our case is delivering excellence in research, teaching and learning, societal engagement and impact – in a manner that, as our Vision 2030 states, ‘unleashes human potential towards a fair and just society’,” it said in a statement.
UCT is already stretched to provide data for the many rankings in which it takes part and has yet to take on another easily. Sub-Saharan Africa ranking as it stands in this first cycle does not fit its mission.
The various metrics suggest that it is aimed at covering the vast diversity of higher education institutions on the sub-continent, which is admirable in its intent but needs to be revised with comparability. UCT positions itself as a research-intensive global university with relevance and impact in Africa, and it is important to us to be ranked against universities with a similar mission for the comparison to be meaningful.
“We have had further concerns with some of the metrics, which we have raised directly with THE,” said UCT.
Following this engagement with THE, UCT might, at a later stage, reconsider its participation should the ranking methodology evolve appropriately, and the resources to support participation be available within the university.
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