University rankers are the subject of much criticism, and yet they remain influential in the field of higher education. Drawing from a two-year field study of university ranking organizations, interviews with key correspondents in the sector, and an analysis of related documents, I introduce the concept of "weak expertise." This kind of…

This article provides postsecondary leaders with a way to quickly develop a more thorough understanding of higher education accountability. It describes the complexity of the broader higher education accountability environment and then maps the seven accountability silos: assessment, accreditation, institutional research, institutional…

Since universities' commitment to internationalisation has been increasing, instruments for measuring institutional internationalisation performance are urgently needed to monitor and evaluate the progress made about internationalisation. Although efforts have been made to develop various tools, an internationally applicable instrument for…

The objective of this article is to study some of the intended and unintended effects on academe of the evolving global ranking game. I will start with some broader points on the global ranking game, the formal terms and economic interests it promotes, then continue with a presentation of the Shanghai ranking and its main rival the Times Higher…

There is a growing interest among higher education (HE) researchers regarding the relevance of measuring quality via the perceptions and experiences of teachers and students. However, relatively few studies have examined more broadly the pedagogical practices and student learning experiences in HE. In addition, there is minimal study that compared…

Some evaluation has been carried out in Vocational High Schools (VHSs), but most of it focuses on the documents or passive data rather than the processes happening in VHSs. Thus, this research focuses on the evaluation of VHS performances where the process is initiated with identifying the constructs and developing the instruments of performance…

While higher education research has paid considerable attention to the impact of both ratings and rankings on universities, less attention has been devoted to how university subunits, such as Schools of Education, are affected by such performance measurements. Anchored in a neo-institutional approach, we analyze the formation of a competitive…

Purpose: It is not easy to grasp the concept of "value" in the higher education context. In fact, different stakeholders generally hold diverging perspectives about the value generated by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The purpose of this paper is to disentangle the value expectations and perceptions of current and former students…

The Culture of Assessment Matrix is a one-page rubric intended to provide institutions of higher education with a simplistic way to quickly gauge the status of their institution's assessment culture and the degree to which the culture is an integral part of the institution's operations, expectations, methods of accountability, and reward systems.…

In May 2019, the United Kingdom (UK) higher education sector restated its strong commitment to protecting the value of UK degrees over time. This was based on the following principles: (1) Protecting the value of qualifications is in the interest of students -- past, present and future -- who deserve qualifications that they can take pride in; (2)…

The goal of this research is to examine the official yearly document, created by the State of Michigan, to officially rank all public schools from best to worst in our state, and offers an alternative way of evaluating these schools. For several years, between 2010 and 2016 the Michigan Department of Education had created a Top-to-Bottom ranking…

This chapter introduces three categories of unintended consequences from school inspections: (1) intended strategic behaviour where schools manipulate the inspection assessment through window dressing, misrepresentation or gaming, (2) unintended strategic behaviour when schools narrow their educational practices as a result of the behaviour of the…

This study analyzes Indonesian and Malaysian universities in order to evaluate the reality of higher education in both countries, uncover the dynamics and causes influencing higher education, and disclose the similarities and contrasts between the Indonesian and Malaysian systems. Birdy's comparative descriptive method was used. This research…

The world has witnessed substantial changes as a consequence of COVID-19 pandemic in many spheres of life including higher education. Assuring quality and maintaining compliance with accreditation criteria during the pandemic have been two critical considerations requiring change and adaptation in higher education institutions. The aim of this…

Purpose: This study empirically investigates the influence of students' brand attitudes and perceptions of brand fit on their study intention vis-à-vis international brand alliances and individual brands after alliance. Design/methodology/approach: Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used in data analysis, and a questionnaire was administered…