Recently, the Quacquarelli Symonds Organization (QS), a renowned British education ranking organization, released the QS World University Rankings 2025 (QS WUR 2025). This year, six Vietnamese universities have made the list, showcasing a notable performance improvement.
Duy Tan University leads among Vietnamese institutions, securing the 495th position, a 19-place jump from last year. Following closely is Ton Duc Thang University, ranked between 711 - 720, an increase of 10 places. Hanoi National University made significant strides, entering the 851 - 900 bracket, climbing 100 places. Ho Chi Minh City National University finds itself in the 901 - 950 group, up by 50 places. The remaining two representatives, Hanoi Polytechnic University and Hue University, are both positioned in the 1,201 - 1,400 range.
Additionally, the recently released QS Yearbook 2024 highlights nine Vietnamese universities on the QS star list, up from five in 2023. This upward trend in rankings has spurred national pride, with many hailing it as evidence of Vietnam's ascent to "world-class" university education.
Global University Rankings: A Complex and Controversial Landscape
The landscape of global university rankings is complex, with numerous organizations offering over ten different ranking systems. Prominent among them are the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) by Shanghai Jiaotong University, the SCImago Institutions Rankings by Spanish research institutions, and the Webometrics university rankings by Cybermetrics Labs (part of the Spanish National Research Council).
Other notable ranking bodies include the Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (GRAS) by Shanghai Ranking Consultancy and the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR). Each ranking system uses unique criteria, making it challenging to determine which is the most accurate or reliable.
Controversies and Criticisms: Manipulation and Inconsistencies
University rankings are not without controversy. Criticisms often focus on the inconsistency of ranking indicators and the omission of crucial data. Notably, Professor Pervez Hoodbhoy, a leading Pakistani scholar, exposed manipulative practices in university rankings in his 2020 article in the Dawn daily. He highlighted cases of scientific fraud and ranking manipulation in Pakistan, pointing to the broader issue of dishonest practices worldwide.
Professor Hoodbhoy detailed how ranking organizations often rely on self-reported data from universities, which can be manipulated to favor the institutions. He described the creation of fraudulent scientific articles and citation cartels—networks where academics artificially inflate each other's citation counts to boost rankings.
Vietnam's University Rankings: A Closer Look
Prof. Dr. Ngo Viet Trung from the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology echoed similar concerns regarding the QS global university rankings. He pointed out that two of the six QS ranking criteria are based on subjective expert opinions, accounting for 50% of the total score. The remaining criteria rely on data provided by the universities themselves, including citation counts from the SCOPUS database. This system can be exploited, as the list of expert reviewers and data submitted by the universities are not independently verified.
In conclusion, while the rise of Vietnamese universities in global rankings is commendable, it is essential to recognize the potential for manipulation and the inherent flaws in the ranking systems. A more transparent and objective approach is necessary to ensure that these rankings genuinely reflect the quality and achievements of educational institutions.
