London 16th May 2013: QS Quacquarelli Symonds is the first compiler of global and regional university rankings to receive the “IREG Approved”* label for three of its research outputs.
The International Ranking Expert Group (IREG) Executive Committee, at its meeting in Warsaw on 15th May 2013, decided to grant to QS the rights to use the “IREG Approved” label in relation to the following three rankings: QS World University Rankings, QS University Rankings: Asia, and QS University Rankings: Latin America.
The decision has come at the end of a thorough audit** process and the approval will last until 31 December 2016.
IREG Observatory on Academic Ranking and Excellence, opens its audit procedure for national, regional and global university academic rankings, the IREG Ranking Audit, on a voluntary basis.
The purpose of the audit, conducted by independent experts, is to verify that the rankings under review are compiled professionally and with a transparent methodology. Successful organisations also need to show that they observe good practices and respond to a need for relevant information from a range of stakeholders, in particular students, higher education institutions, employers and policy makers.
“QS is committed to the pursuit of best practice in international university rankings. We are, naturally, pleased to be the first international ranking to be IREG Approved.” says Ben Sowter, QS head of research. “Beyond the result itself, it signals the willingness to open our systems and processes up to external, independent scrutiny and exhibit the same transparency we demand of universities”
“We are proud and honoured to have received the IREG approval” adds Nunzio Quacquarelli, managing director of QS. “It is a testimony to the vision, dedication and sheer passion that our team has put into pioneering the evaluation of universities at a global, regional and subject level”. Quacquarelli continues “ Since the inception of the World University Rankings in 2004, QS has focussed on criteria that are relevant to millions of international students and their parents”
Martin Ince, convenor of the QS Global Academic Advisory Board says:
“I have always been proud of the broad acceptance of the Rankings by students and other communities around the world, and confident of the rigour with which they are compiled. I am delighted that IREG, the world’s leading body for independent rankings assessment, agrees with us that they are a valuable and high-quality contribution to world higher education.”
The third edition of the QS University Rankings: Latin America will be published on Tuesday 28th May 2013 followed by the fifth edition of the QS University Rankings: Asia on Tuesday 11th June.
The tenth edition of the QS World University Rankings will be published on Tuesday 10th September 2013.
* Clarification on the use of the “IREG Approved”
** The idea of ranking audit is rooted in the Berlin Principles on Ranking of Higher Education Institutions. The IREG Ranking Audit Manual was adopted by the Executive Committee of the IREG Observatory in November 2011 and is available at www.ireg-observatory.org.
