Phil Baty and Ben Sowter

Phil Baty is editor of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and Ben Sowter is head of the team produces the QS World University Rankings. These two league tables have a massive influence on institutions’ strategy, and are also regularly quoted in national policy making. Quirks of methodology in either can be the difference between a vice chancellor being deemed a success or a failure, banks deciding whether to lend universities money, students deciding where to study, and more besides. Some suggest all that points to their excessive influence, but either way, there’s no hiding from them.