New data partner for World University Rankings

Times Higher Education has signed an agreement with Thomson Reuters, the world’s leading research-data specialist, to provide the data for its annual World University Rankings.

The magazine will develop a new rankings methodology in the coming months, 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.

The revamped and improved Times Higher Education World University Rankings of the top 200 universities and tables revealing the leading institutions by subject area will be published annually from autumn 2010.

“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. “So we’re delighted to have agreed a deal with Thomson Reuters to help us achieve that.”

Ms Mroz said that the magazine expected to 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: “In addition to unmatched data quality, Thomson Reuters provides a proven history of bibliometric expertise and analysis.

“We are proud that our data continue to be chosen by leading organisations around the world, and we’re happy to provide insight and consultation on such a widely respected indicator as Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings.”

The rankings have become an annual fixture in the international higher education calendar and make headlines around the world.

Although they are now used by governments and institutions worldwide to benchmark higher education performance, 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.

Thomson Reuters is a leading source of information for businesses and professionals. It serves the financial, legal, tax and accounting, healthcare, science and media markets. The company’s Web of Science platform provides academics and university administrators with access to the world’s leading citation databases, covering 12,000 of the highest-impact academic journals and more than 110,000 conference proceedings. It spans the sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities, including retrospective coverage dating back to 1900.

Thomson Reuters is headquartered in New York, has bases in London and Eagan, Minnesota, operates in more than 100 countries and employs more than 50,000 people.

QS, which has collected and analysed the rankings data for the past six years, will no longer have any involvement with Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings.

phil.baty@tsleducation.com

• Help us develop our new rankings methodology – tell us what you think by posting comments below.