Universities losing the race against Asia

Hundreds of millions of dollars being pumped into Asian universities are one reason Australasian institutions have dropped in international rankings, a new analysis says, reports Nicholas Jones for the New Zealand Herald.

A new Ministry of Education report has examined universities' performances in international rankings over a number of years, to give a better picture of how the tertiary sector has fared.

Dr Warren Smart, author of the report, notes doubts about the usefulness of such rankings. However, he says, they are "here to stay" and gain considerable attention from media, policymakers, the public and universities. "They are important, ultimately, because people think they are important."
Full report on the New Zealand Herald site