QS STARS Ratings System. Shining a Light on Excellence Recognizing Diversity in Higher Education

Transcription

1 QS STARS Ratings System Shining a Light on Excellence Recognizing Diversity in Higher Education 1

2 QS Stars defined One Star a typical one-star university has established all the key components required to provide a good standard of education to its students and, in many cases, the foundations upon which to build a strong domestic reputation. A one-star institution will often have been established within the last years and will be putting in place the necessary leadership structures to take it to the next level. Two Stars a typical two-star university is active in research and has an established domestic reputation. The institution is a key part of its local community and will often have begun to consider international opportunities. Three Stars a typical three-star university is nationally well recognized, and may have also begun to attract international recognition. This institution maintains a reputable level of research and its graduates are attractive to employers. Four Stars a typical four-star university is highly international, demonstrating excellence in both research and teaching. The institution provides an excellent environment for students and faculty. Five Stars a typical five-star institution is generally world-class in a broad range of areas, enjoys an excellent reputation and has cutting-edge facilities and internationally renowned research and teaching faculty. Five Stars + a typical five-star + institution is not just world-class but a transcendent global aspirational destination, the presence of whose brand name will add immediate enhancement to the résumé of every individual that passes through it. Five Stars + can apply equally to the world s foremost comprehensive and specialist institutions. 2

3 QS Stars QS Stars is rapidly growing into the chosen evaluation system for universities worldwide. With institutions globally participating in the QS Stars program, it is an international standard that is becoming increasingly recognised. QS Stars uses a rating system that allows a university to shine irrespective of its size, shape and mission. At the end of the audit process universities are awarded a range of stars for their overall performance and are also awarded stars in each of eight assessed criteria. The number of stars awarded at the overall and category levels will resonate with international students, parents and university staff, and become a valuable asset to add to your marketing collateral and outreach. QS Stars uses a wide range of indicators to measure the performance of an institution. It is an opportunity for universities to highlight their strengths through this awarded recognition. When associated with an institution s brand, it acts as a powerful marketing mechanism for communicating distinct areas of strength to students, parents, academics, employers and the wider community. QS Stars offer an international standard of comparison for any participating institution. This is particularly useful for universities that are focused on boosting their international brand awareness. It can include universities not traditionally well placed in rankings, as it can identify strengths that may have been overlooked in a rankings context. The award is licensed to an institution to highlight its star rating in all visual communications. About QS Intelligence Unit The QS Intelligence Unit (QSIU) strives to be the most trusted independent source of global intelligence in the higher education sector. Since 1990, QS has conducted research in a range of education and employment areas beginning with a global survey of MBA employers. The annual QS World University Rankings have been produced since 04, encompassing the most well-known range of research projects that QS operates. With operations in London and Singapore, QSIU delivers detailed analysis and is committed to the key values of rigorous integrity, undeniable value and accessible presentation. Now, in response to increasing public interest in comparative data on universities and organizations and the growing demand from institutions to gain insight into their competitive environment, QSIU has added QS Stars to its portfolio of distinct services. The QSIU team has a wealth of experience working in the higher education sector and employs a team of experienced and accomplished analysts. The team is a very international one with staff from over 15 countries, which enables us to understand and respect cultural differences. The team prides itself in speaking over 17 languages including; Arabic, Cantonese, French, German, Greek, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Konkani, Mandarin, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish and Swahili. Trusted. Independent. Global. 3

4 QS Stars participants Below is a list of participating institutions by country, for a full comprehensive list please contact Jason Newman* Australia University of New South Wales Bond University University of Technology Sydney RMIT Swinburne University of Technology University of Newcastle University of Tasmania Murdoch University Brazil Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Ecuador Universidad San Francisco de Quito Kazakhstan Al-Farabi Kazakh National University India Amity University Indonesia Institut Teknologi Bandung Universitas Bina Nusantara (BINUS) Universitas Airlangga Universitas Syiah Kuala Universitas Sebelas Maret Ireland Limerick University University College Cork Italy Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (UCSC) Mexico Tecnológico de Monterrey New Zealand The University of Canterbury Massey University Saudi Arabia King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals Qassim University Singapore Nanyang Technological University National University of Singapore Spain IE University Sweden KTH Royal Institute of Technology United Arab Emirates Gulf Medical University United States Ohio State University United Kingdom King s College London President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Frederick G Hilmer from UNSW receives the 11 QS Stars award Louise Tobin, Director of International Student recruitment University College Cork receives the 11 QS Stars award *contact details on last page 4

5 Endorsements Bertil Andersson President, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore NTU is a relatively young university, which has been developing rapidly in the last few years. The current ranking from QS is an affirmation that NTU today has a high international standing. The new QS Stars rating system further recognizes NTU s strengths as a world-class university across a broader set of criteria than can be measured in any ranking system and provides valuable information for our many stakeholders - current students, prospective students, parents, teachers, employers, fellow academics as well as our local community. Jennie Lang Pro-Vice-Chancellor - UNSW International, University of New South Wales, Australia From now on all of our promotional material, our website, and our publications, will include both the QS Stars rating alongside the Australian government s ERA analysis Compared to an international ranking, QS Stars offers more of a framework for benchmarking. It s something where criteria that are important can be measured over time, not just with our colleagues in Australia but with likeminded universities anywhere in the world, and that s what really attracted us. I think most universities will use QS Stars. Increasingly, discerning students who are much more knowledgeable about their opportunities, say show me the evidence. I sense that this is what the future is going to be - students wanting us not just to make these assertions, but to back them up. Edilio Mazzoleni Head of Operations - International Office, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy QS Stars is a mechanism for us to project our specific strengths to the world. It has given us a better understanding of what are our weaknesses, as well as our strengths, within the university. Ailsa La Mont Executive Director - International, RMIT University, Australia QS Stars actually drills down to further detail, which will give students the choice to compare us more usefully with other institutions We can use it to highlight the many diverse areas of strength that we have, and it will help us with our planning in areas such as branding, positioning, and telling us which areas to focus on. 5

6 Taken to market Students use the Internet to research every stage of their choice of university course. Our research is recognized worldwide as independently reliable and thorough. The QS World University Rankings is one of the foremost research tools for prospective students worldwide. Now QS Stars rated universities will appear alongside these prestigious rankings online to provide additional content and information for the students. The detailed criteria of QS Stars will complement and add a new level of depth to the rankings. is one of the strongest university search websites on the internet with over million visits in. QS Stars will be highlighted on the home page, leading to a dedicated QS Stars webpage. This page is designed for prospective university students, and will provide an in-depth profile of QS Stars rated universities. QS Stars webpage will be linked directly from the popular TopUniversities.com page. The website is enriched with content for students and parents focusing on the new QS Stars rating system and how it can help them narrow down their search and drill down on indicators that enable prospective students to see beyond the headlines and identify excellence that might otherwise remain in the shadow. is a leading source for graduate program research. This website will also feature the QS Stars search function on the home page as well as unique profiles for each participating QS Stars rated institution. Media impact QS is the leading marketing and communications company in the international higher education sector with offices in London, Paris, Stuttgart, Singapore and New York. Over the years, QS has formed international partnerships with the world s leading media outlets such as US News and World Report, Chosun Ilbo, The Times of India, The Sunday Times, Sina.com and many more. The launch of QS Stars will be supported by an extensive PR campaign by the QS PR team; targeting the world s leading print, online and social media to ensure your QS Stars-rated institution is recognized globally. 6

7 Boost your marketing message QS Stars offers your universitiy the opportunity to use awarded stars to empower your marketing and branding collateral and campaigns. Once the audit has been completed you will receive a comprehensive pack that consists of various logos for your institution s achievements. Under the licence agreement you will be entitled to use whichever logo you have been awarded on your marketing materials. QS supplies all logos in formats that will suit your printed and online materials. Please see examples of logos below. Overall Rankings Badges Category Rankings Badges TM E Name of University MP L The QS Intelligence Unit has, through rigorous and independent data collect and analysis of performance ion metrics as set out in the QS Stars methodology, rated xxx as a five star institution. The QS Stars rating system is operated by the QS Intelligence evaluates universities across Unit, the independent compiler a wide range of important of the QS World University performance indicators as Rankings since 04. The range of criteria than any set against pre-established system world ranking exercise, QS international standards. By Stars shines a light on both covering a broader the excellence and the diversity of the rated institution. SA CATEGORY STAR RATING Research Employability m STUDENT QUALITY re o tha n Infrastructure Internationalization Innovation Engagement Specialization OVERALL Ben Sowter - Head of QS QS Stars 11 QS Intelligence Unit (a division of QS Quacquarelli Symonds Ltd) 7 Intelligence Unit FACILITIES

8 Boost your marketing message This page shows some examples of how logo s can be used on print adverts, reception areas and websites. Announcing the launch of QS 5 Stars + We are pleased to announce the launch of the QS 5 Star + award. Requiring a minimum 12 of 900 points and a Five-Star performance in all evaluated categories, the Five Stars + badge is designed to identify world elite institutions that are strong in all aspects with recent refinements to the methodology, Five Stars + can apply equally to the world s foremost comprehensive and specialist institutions. 8

9 Shining a light on your institution s excellence QS Stars allows your institution s specialist subject areas to be highlighted. Appearing in any of the following QS rankings will earn your institution points in the specialist criteria, giving greater exposure and recognition to your specialist strengths: Broad faculty area rankings Appearing within the top 300 of the QS World University Rankings by broad faculty area rankings can earn your institution specialist criteria points. 12 * For illustrative purposes only. QS World University Rankings by Subject QS Stars also offers institutions the opportunity to highlight their performance in several of their highlyranked subject areas. 12 SPECIALIST SUBJECT: MATHEMATICS SPECIALIST SUBJECT: ARCHITECTURE * For illustrative purposes only. Accreditation Institutions that do not have a ranked subject but have had a subject accredited by an internationally recognized accreditation body, also have the opportunity to highlight their specialist subject area. All accreditations should count to one particular area of specialisation. 9

10 Show your strength Using a broader range of criteria QS Stars gives a university the opportunity to highlight its strengths, whether or not it appears in rankings. The rating system includes a broader range of criteria than traditional rankings. Evidence based marketing QS Stars is produced through the independent expertise of the QS Intelligence Unit and generates the hard evidence to support an institution s marketing claims. International recognition QS Stars provides an opportunity for universities to gain international recognition outside of rankings. It also benefits institutions where English is not the first language as the entire set of QS Stars indicators can be adapted to any national context. This is ideal for universities wishing to increase their capacity to attract international students. Great auditing tool The QS Stars audit assists an institution in the orderly collection and dissemination of key performance data. This is a joint effort with QSIU collecting part of the data, then guiding the institution in what is required from them. The end result is a comprehensive institutional report compiled by QS, which serves as a development road map, and a better preparedness to respond to internal and external calls for performance data. Specialized subjects are highlighted Universities that specialize in a particular subject area will be recognized for their excellence compared with their peers and will gain more exposure to their program. See page 7 for an example of specialized subject area badges. Strong web presence QS is proud to own some of the most popular research tools for university-bound students to utilize during their research process. Our most popular website, TopUniversities.com will feature a profile page for every institution that participates in QS Stars. With more than million visits in, the website offers one of the most effective and popular online communications platforms.

11 Development Road Map - The Institutional Report Universities that participate in the QS Stars evaluation program receive a comprehensive report, which details their results as measured by a rigorous QS proprietary analysis. In essence, this report will detail your institution s performance against each of the indicators. This research and analysis can help enhance your institution s strategy moving forward. A complete sample report can be provided on request, please contact Jason Newman*. *contact details on last page. 11

12 Methodology explained The objective of the QS Stars rating system is to assess universities according to a broader range of criteria, giving them a greater opportunity to stand out in their particular areas of excellence. A star rating assesses institutional performance in greater detail than can feasibly be accommodated in ranking results. It can encourage users and readers to understand that ranking results ought to be analyzed and contextualized rather than simply taken at face value. It can also provide additional important information that may be used by prospective students during the earliest stages of the decision-making process for university applications. Ratings are not dependent on the performance of other institutions, but evaluate an individual institution s performance and measure it against pre-set thresholds. Distribution of points 12

13 Core Core criteria Criteria These criteria feature the key building blocks of a university whether focused globally, domestically or locally These criteria All feature categories the in this key section building are mandatory blocks of for a the university evaluation. whether focused globally, domestically or locally 150 Overall student satisfaction OR Completion 40 Proportion of students expressing satisfaction with overall experience in student survey Proportion of students scheduled to graduate succeeding in doing so Satisfaction with teaching OR Faculty with PhD 40 Proportion of students expressing satisfaction with teaching through student survey Proportion of faculty with PhD or equivalent terminal degree Further study Proportion of students pursuing further study within 12 months of graduation Faculty student ratio Employer reputation 50 Number of employer referees endorsing institution in QS Global Employer Survey Graduate employment rate 50 Proportion of students employed within 12 months of graduation (excluding those not actively seeking work e.g. pursuing further study) Career service support 50 Number of full-time careers advisors 150 Papers per faculty Research papers (Scopus) per faculty member OR Arts-related outputs 40 Recognition of academic outputs in disciplines where journal articles are not pervasive Version

14 Core criteria Core Criteria Citations per paper 40 Citations per paper adjusted for institutions with negligible activity in medicine, science and technology Academic reputation 40 Number of academic referees endorsing institution in QS Global Academic Survey Prolific academic experts 30 Number of faculty members achieving international recognition through awards (e.g. Nobel Prize) 150 International faculty Proportion of international faculty International collaboration 50 University research collaborations or joint degree programs with QS top 500 universities in previous three years published rankings International students Proportion of international students Religious facilities Provision of appropriate facilities for international students of different religions Inbound exchange students Proportion of inbound exchange students Outbound exchange students Proportion of inbound exchange students International diversity Number of nationalities represented in student body 14

15 Learning Learning Environment environment Universities Universities are able are select able select two of two the of the categories in this area as as part part of the of QS the Stars QS Stars evaluation evaluation 0 Sporting Facilities Provision of key, popular sporting facilities (e.g. swimming pool, gym, track, sports courts etc ) Medical Facilities Provision of medical facilities appropriate to the size of the student body Student societies Number of student administered organizations Student accommodation Number of student rooms relative to size of student body IT infrastructure Number of computers on campus; proportion of wired student rooms or campus Wi -Fi coverage Library Facilities Value or number of acquisitions with the past 12 months 15

16 Learning Environment Learning environment 0 Latest technology Use of new technology for program deployment Track record Length of time the institution had been operating successful online programs Student faculty engagement Regular access to faculty for one on one support Student interaction Opportunities to meet and interact with fellow students Commitment to online Number/proportion of programs made available online Reputation Number of organizations using programs and technology for staff training 16

17 Advanced criteria Advanced criteria For a university to aspire to being truly world-class, its mission and its impact must extend further than the basics. This selection of For criteria a university looks to aspire at important to being truly factors world-class, that a its university mission and with its impact a solid must foundation extend further in than the core the criteria might target to advance basics. to a higher This selection level of criteria performance looks at important and recognition. factors that a university with a solid foundation in the core criteria might target to advance to a higher level of performance and recognition. Recognising that institutions vary in specialisation, this section gives universities the option to select two of the categories Recognising in this area that that institutions showcases vary in their specialisation, strengths. this section gives universities the option to select two of the categories in this area that showcases their strengths. 50 Concerts and exhibitions Concerts and exhibitions featuring the work or performances of students and faculty Credits and cultural awards Credits or cultural awards for students, faculty members or the institution as a whole publically accessible works Cultural investment Financial contribution to arts projects outside the university OR investment in cultural preservation 50 Patents Active patents registered with national or international patent offices Spin-off companies Spin-off companies established in the last five years still operating and no longer requiring support from the university Industrial research Joint research projects with distinct research corporations (non-university), yielding publications in Scopus in the last 5 years 17

18 Advanced criteria Advanced criteria 50 Community investment and development Financial or in-kind contributions to community projects within 0km of any campus or affiliated facility Charity work and disaster relief Financial or in-kind contributions to national or international causes and charities Regional human capital development Proportion of graduates employed in the region OR proportion of students from the region Environmental impact Performance against a checklist of environmental indicators 50 Scholarships and bursaries Financial value of, or number of students granted access through, scholarships Disabled access Proportion of campus with wheelchair access Gender balance Recognition of gender parity Low-income outreach Proportion of students identified as low-income OR investment in promotion to low-income families *Universities will only be evaluated in two of the sections in this area as part of the QS Stars Evaluation. A maximum of 0 points can be scored. 18

19 Specialist Specialist criteria criteria Excellence in a narrow field is as valid a claim to world-class status as competence in the round. These criteria are designed to extend credit where it's due. All categories in this section are mandatory for the Excellence evaluation. in a narrow field is as valid a claim to world-class status as competence in the round. These criteria are designed to extend credit where it s due. All categories in this section are mandatory for the evaluation. 150 Faculty area ranking Ranking performance in any one of five broad faculty areas conducted Specific subject ranking Ranking performance in specific disciplines in rankings conducted by QS or respected alternate publisher Internationally recognized accreditations Programs accredited by internationally recognized and applicable standards Nationally recognized accreditations Programs accredited by internationally recognized and applicable standards 50 THRESHOLDS & PRE-REQUISITES 1 Star (0 / 00) Must have the authority to grant valid degree level programs in its own name 2 Stars (250 / 00) 3 Stars (400 / 00) 4 Stars (550 / 00) Must have at least 75 academic referees or must have at least 2 citations per faculty member (for any institution not focused exclusively in two or fewer of our broad faculty area Must have at least 1% international students 5 Stars (700 / 00) Must have at least 150 academic referees or 3 citations per faculty member (for any institution not focused exclusively in two or fewer of our broad faculty areas) Must have at least 5% international faculty Must have at least 5% international students Must have at least employer referees Must have a minimum of 70 points in Infrastructure category within Core Criteria 5 Stars + (900/00) Must have 5 Star rating in all categories 19

20 Category rankings Advanced criteria QS Stars offers universities further opportunity to highlight their strengths across the categories within the evaluation system, allowing the reader to view the individual strengths. Threshold Threshold Teaching Employability 1 Star 2 Stars 3 Stars 4 Stars 5 Stars 15/150 35/150 60/150 85/150 5/150 1 Star 2 Stars 3 Stars 4 Stars 5 Stars 15/150 35/150 60/150 85/150 5/150 Research Internationalization 1 Star 2 Stars 3 Stars 4 Stars 5 Stars 15/150 35/150 60/150 85/150 5/150 1 Star 2 Stars 3 Stars 4 Stars 5 Stars 15/150 35/150 60/150 85/150 5/150 Facilities Online/Distance 1 Star 2 Stars 3 Stars 4 Stars 5 Stars /0 25/0 40/0 55/0 70/0 1 Star 2 Stars 3 Stars 4 Stars 5 Stars /0 25/0 40/0 55/0 70/0 Innovation Culture 1 Star 2 Stars 3 Stars 4 Stars 5 Stars 5/50 15/50 /50 30/50 35/50 1 Star 2 Stars 3 Stars 4 Stars 5 Stars 5/50 15/50 /50 30/50 35/50 Access Engagement 1 Star 2 Stars 3 Stars 4 Stars 5 Stars 5/50 15/50 /50 30/50 35/50 Advanced criteria 1 Star 2 Stars 3 Stars 4 Stars 5 Stars 5/50 15/50 /50 30/50 35/50 Specialist Criteria 1 Star 2 Stars 3 Stars 4 Stars 5 Stars /0 50/500 80/500 1/0 140/0

21 Meet the team Jason Newman - Global Commercial Director Jason is based in QS London HQ, and has 22 years experience in publications, events and promotions including for the last 12 years in the international higher education domain. At QS he has run a portfolio of international student undergraduate and postgraduate recruitment products and services. He consults to top universities world-wide introducing the QS portfolio and advising them on strategies for brand positioning, international student recruitment and international partnerships. Deena Al-Hilli - Project Manager Deena Al-Hilli is Project Manager of QS Stars, she is responsible for the development and growth of the project. She joined QS in 06 as a Business Development Executive liaising with universities and business schools from around the globe to help them recruit high quality candidates and improve their local and international presence. In, Deena joined the QSIU team as a key member and is actively involved in the data collection, verification and compilation of all data for the QS Stars audits. She frequently contributes her expertise at global higher education events and conferences. Ben Sowter - Head of Research at QS, leading the QS Intelligence Unit. Ben is fully responsible for the operational management of all major QS research projects and is actively involved in all the collection, compilation and tabulation of all the data that lead to, among others, the QS Top MBA Applicant and Recruiter Research and the QS World University Rankings research. Ben is a frequent contributor to the press and his opinion and expertise is used regularly by major global publications. John Molony - VP for Strategic Planning and Marketing John joined the senior management team at QS in 09 after 15 years in international higher education in Australia. At QS he is responsible for corporate marketing and the brand, and is leading several key initiatives. For QS sister companies, he is a Senior Consultant and Director with QS Consulting, and a Director with QS Unisoltuions. John also sits on QS rankings and evaluations Advisory Board. Nunzio Quacquarelli - Founder and Managing Director of QS Quacquarelli Symonds Ltd. Nunzio believes that education and career decisions are too important to leave to chance. QS aims to be the world s leading media and solutions company in the higher education sector and the most trusted online and off-line meeting place for all candidates, schools and businesses for career and educational related decisions, at each key career stage. Nunzio is responsible for the annual TopMBA.com Applicant and Recruiter Research, producing several reports including the annual QS Global 0 Top Business Schools Report. He is recognized as an authority on the strengths, weaknesses and specializations of business schools and universities around the world. Team of Analysts Stephanie Braudeau Ina Chiriliuc Abby Chau Martin Juno Susan Gatuguta 21

22 Pricing QS Stars AUDIT fee - US$9,850 Audit valid for three years Includes report detailing basis for achieved award and guidance on maintaining/improving award level Optional annual audit can be conducted at an extra fee, within the three year cycle QS Stars annual licence fee - US$6,850 Includes upgrade to intermediate profile level on Presentation of specific results on a customised link Licence to use supplied graphics and logos in online and printed materials to present rating to stakeholders Please note, the invoicing schedule will be as follows: Year 1 - US$16,700 (Audit fee and annual licence fee) Year 2 - US$6,850 (Annual licence fee) Year 3 - US$6,850 (Annual licence fee) 22

23 Participation form Institution name Institution address Tel Fax 3 YEAR AUDIT OPTIONAL ANNUAL AUDIT TOTAL COST Confirmation of your booking and an invoice will be sent to you via . A QS representative will be in contact. This contract is binding. Authorized signatory Name of signatory Position Signature:stamp Date Please fax form to Jason Newman +44 (0) For General enquiries, please contact Deena Al-Hilli deena@qs.com For further information on QS Stars in your area, please contact Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Scandinavia Jason Newman jason@qs.com UK, Ireland, Netherlands and Switzerland Nicholas Sequeira nicholas@qs.com Asia, Middle East and Africa Mandy Mok mandy@qs.com Italy and Turkey Dario Consoli dario@qs.com Eastern Europe and Central Asia Zoya Zaitseva zoya@qs.com USA Aled Owens aled@qs.com Rest of World 23 Jason Newman jason@qs.com