‘University rankings a measure of wealth rather than quality’

Colleges worldwide are constantly using tactics to try and boost their place on global league tables, but they are a measure of wealth rather than quality, says one of the world’s authorities on university rankings.

Dublin Institute of Technology research and enterprise director Prof Ellen Hazelkorn made her comments as University College Cork comes under scrutiny for its efforts to improve its position in a top higher education league table.

It has been placed on a watchlist for any unusual scoring patterns in the academic survey that makes up 40% of marks that determine the QS World University Rankings.