Trinity in university rankings breach

Trinity College Dublin breached university ranking guidelines by sending “misguided and naive” letters to graduates and academics reminding them that the evaluation process was under way.

QS, which compiles world university rankings, has confirmed there was a breach by TCD of its policy around “independently promoting participation”. It said such contraventions are “rare” and it had informed TCD of its concerns.

But it is unlikely TCD will be temporarily suspended from the rankings process as this sanction is more likely to be reserved for repeat offenders, according to QS.

Two years ago, University College Cork got a slight rap on the knuckles from QS, and had its results watched carefully after president Michael Murphy sent staff a letter that he suggested they might send to international contacts to make them aware of the QS reputation survey. UCC was not found guilty of a breach, however.

Referring to the latest mishap, a QS spokeswoman said: “We think the saddest part of this affair is that a prestigious institution such as TCD felt the need to execute such a campaign overlooking the potential damage to its otherwise solid reputation”.

Trinity’s vice-president, John Boland, sent the email asking graduates to fill out the surveys, which he said were important “in order to maintain the university’s reputation, attract good students, and pursue collaborations with other institutions”.

QS will engage further with TCD to “discuss potential outcomes” and “appropriate consequences”.

“Whatever the outcome, we will establish a fixed and repeatable set of consequences which will apply to any other institution found to be contravening these policies in the future. We need to model the impact of this particular sanction carefully. Our ranking is inclusive and doesn’t allow institutions to opt out as it would falsely elevate the ones below them”.

A TCD spokeswoman said it “regularly provides updates to the wider Trinity community, comprising of alumni, employers and academics with whom we have an ongoing relationship, on our successes and achievements in that sphere”.

“Our letters were sent in good faith and called for participation in the surveys. At no time were they intended to influence the response of the recipients. We regret that our communication with our community on this matter has caused any concern.”