I was interested to see that the co-author of The Times Good University Guide , Bernard Kingston, describes its methodology as transparent (Soapbox, June 17). If it were so, I would be able to check any institution's position in the tables in the guide. That is not possible.
The Higher Education Statistics Agency, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service and Universities UK should adopt a protocol whereby they collaborate with the publishers of league tables only on the condition that they make available sufficient information to allow evaluation of the statistical validity of their "methodologies".
Alfred Morris
Vice-chancellor, University of the West of England