That’s the disparaging term for an industry that now wears it as a badge of ironic pride. But league tables can’t be ignored, as the influence, particularly of global rankings, continues to grow in governments around the world and financial institutions that use them as a shorthand for credit-worthiness and bond ratings.
Many VCs see a good league table place as the crowning achievement for their institution – with some happy to look at often spurious interpretations of literally any league table to do so (a practice now closely monitored by the Advertising Standards Agency which is cracking down on universities that misrepresent league table data in marketing materials). Others prefer not to talk about them at all – either because they’re not getting the placement they’d like, or for those that consistently perform well – it’s seen to be all a little bit unseemly.
Close observers of university boards of governors despair at how lay members attach so much importance to them, with countless university strategies calling for league table rises that are unlikely or impossible to ever take place – and more likely to divert thinking and resources away from true core strengths and financial sustainability. Academics generally treat them with disdain for bringing further evidence of marketisation to the sector – and for the occasional questionable statistical leap into the unknown.
But despite big ongoing debates about methodology and reliability, the UK’s major league tables are commendably free from bias and operate at the reputable end of the global industry. Disagree with them or not, the methodology is usually clear and there is no suspicion of pay-to-place. Sadly, the same can’t be said for much of the rest of an industry that continues to extend its reach and influence around the world.