A qualitative exploration of motivations and challenges for universities seeking to join the university rankings race

Abstract

Joining university rankings has become increasingly significant in recent years characterized by intense competition in global higher education. Although there are some benefits to these rankings, there are also some disadvantages. This study sought to determine universities' motivations and possible challenges for joining global university rankings and offer recommendations to institutions seeking ranking. This was a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews to collect data from 24 participants selected from universities in the United Kingdom, the United States,