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Tough task ranking Asia's best

Article Abstract:

Popular Hong Kong magazine Asia Week showed a certain courage in May 1997 when it published a listing of Asia's 50 best universities, since comparing universities from 15 countries and territories is fraught with problems. The inclusion of Australian universities in the list reflects the way in which it is becoming normal to compare Australia with Asia. Japan's Tokyo and Kyoto universities were ranked first and second respectively, followed by the University of Hong Kong. Asia Week admits that the listing has many weaknesses, partly because seven highly-regarded universities provided inadequate information.

Column, Schools, Asia

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Writer's block on enquiry

Article Abstract:

Institutions' attempts to maximise their ratings in the Higher Education Funding Council for England's research assessment exercise (RAE) have a number of implications for research students. The practice of 'poaching' top-ranked research-active staff prior to the RAE profile submission could deprive research students of their supervisor mid-way through their studies. Some institutions attempt to boost their research profiles by taking on more research students. This can leave academics who are already under pressure to publish with even less time to supervise research students.

Management, Research, Graduate students

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Weights and measures

Article Abstract:

The Times Higher Education Supplement's 1995 university league table has been altered to take universities' views into account. The university requiring the highest number of points for entry is Cambridge, which requires students to have 40 points. Oxford university spends 1,040 pound sterling on library books per student, making it the highest spending university in this area.

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