New era for the world rankings

Times Higher Education's World University Rankings are changing. The magazine has signed an agreement with Thomson Reuters, the research-data specialist, to provide data for the annual rankings.

The magazine will develop a new methodology in consultation with its readers, its editorial board of higher education experts and Thomson Reuters. Thomson Reuters will collect and analyse the data used to produce the rankings on behalf of Times Higher Education.

"Our rankings have become hugely influential, and we recognise our responsibility to produce the most rigorous and transparent table we can," said Ann Mroz, editor of Times Higher Education.

The rankings are used by governments and institutions worldwide to benchmark performance in higher education, but their methodology has been criticised.

"We acknowledge the criticism, and now want to work with the sector to produce a legitimate and robust research tool for academics and university administrators," Ms Mroz said.

The magazine will work closely with Jonathan Adams, the UK-based director of research evaluation at Thomson Reuters, in developing the new data requirements and methodology for 2010.

Dr Adams said that as well as providing the data for the rankings, Thomson Reuters is "happy to provide insight and consultation on such a widely respected indicator as Times Higher Education's World University Rankings".

QS, which for the past six years has collected and analysed the data for the top 200 table, will no longer have any involvement with Times Higher Education's rankings.

The revamped and improved Times Higher Education World University Rankings of the top 200 institutions will be published annually from autumn 2010.

Thomson Reuters is a leading source of information for business and professionals, with operations across more than 100 countries. Its Web of Science platform provides academics with online access to journals and conference proceedings.

phil.baty@tsleducation.com.