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Higher Education Policy

, Volume 27, Issue 2, pp 259–277 | Cite as

The Ranking Phenomenon and the Experience of Academics in Taiwan

  • William Yat Wai Lo
Article
First Online:

Abstract

The primary aim of the paper is to examine how global university rankings have influenced the higher education sector in Taiwan from the perspective of academics. A qualitative case study method was used to examine how university ranking influenced the Taiwanese higher education at institutional and individual levels, respectively, thereby providing insights into the challenges that a group of academics faced. As for institutional level, the paper discusses how universities used rankings as a tool of quality assurance, and the extent to which rankings intensified competition between universities in Taiwan. In regard to individual level, the paper focuses on how faculty members had to abandon their teaching duties under the climate of competitiveness and achievements brought by rankings. It concludes by arguing that the effects of global ranking have caused inequality in Taiwan’s higher education.

Keywords

university ranking quality assurance higher education competition Taiwan 
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Notes

Acknowledgements

I thank Bob Adamson for very helpful comments on an earlier version of the paper. I also thank the editor and the reviewers of Higher Education Policy for sharp and constructive criticism of the version originally submitted to the journal. The usual disclaimers apply.

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Copyright information

© International Association of Universities 2013

Authors and Affiliations

  • William Yat Wai Lo
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of International Education and Lifelong LearningThe Hong Kong Institute of EducationTaipoHong Kong

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