Universities of Ukraine in the Light of the Qs World University Rankings: Comparative Analysis

Abstract

The authors of the article analysed the achievements of Ukrainian universities according to the modernised version of the QS World University Rankings 2024. The ranking positions and parameters of Ukrainian institutions are compared with similar characteristics of the world’s leading universities and progressive universities of Kazakhstan. The crucial impact on the ranking distribution of the QS Rankings features, its methodology, criteria and indicators, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of universities, and the losses of Ukrainian institutions as a result of the Russian-Ukrainian war are considered. Among the problematic aspects of QS Rankings is the weakening of the features of a university ranking due to the despecification of the university and ranking missions and, as a result, the disorienting role of its criteria, indicators and results for universities. The state of the university rankings and classification culture in Ukraine and the national university network is assessed. Relevant recommendations for their development are provided in order to bring the victory in the Russian-Ukrainian war closer and for the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine on an innovative, highly intellectual and high-tech basis, as well as for successful European integration, in particular into the European Higher Education Area in both its dimensions (“compatibility and comparability” and “competitiveness and attractiveness”).