Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU)

The Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), commonly known as the Shanghai Rankings, is an annual publication of global university rankings. It was first published in 2003 by the Center for World-Class Universities at Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China. The ARWU is considered one of the most prestigious and influential university rankings in the world.

• ARWU evaluates universities based on six objective indicators related to research performance:
• Alumni Winning Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals (10%)
• Faculty Winning Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals (20%)
• Highly Cited Researchers in 21 Broad Subject Categories (20%)
• Papers Published in Nature and Science (20%)
• Papers Indexed in the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) and Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) (20%)
• Per Capita Academic Performance (10%)

The ARWU ranking methodology emphasizes research performance, particularly in the fields of natural sciences and social sciences:

• Alumni of an institution winning Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals (10%): This indicator measures the number of alumni who have received prestigious awards.
• Faculty of an institution winning Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals (20%): Assesses the number of faculty members who have received these prestigious awards.
• Highly cited researchers in 21 broad subject categories (20%): Based on the number of highly cited researchers listed by Clarivate Analytics.
• Papers published in the journals Nature and Science (20%): Counts the number of papers published in these leading journals.
• Papers indexed in the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) and Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) (20%): Measures the number of papers indexed in these databases.
• Per capita academic performance of an institution (10%): Evaluates the per capita academic performance, dividing the total score of the above indicators by the number of full-time equivalent academic staff.

• Alumni and Faculty Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals: Data collected from the official Nobel Prize and Fields Medal websites to identify affiliations at the time of award-winning research.
• Highly Cited Researchers: Data sourced from Clarivate Analytics' Highly Cited Researchers list.
• Papers Published in Nature and Science: Data obtained from the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) and Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) databases.
• Indexed Papers: Total number of papers indexed in SCIE and SSCI databases, sourced from Clarivate Analytics.
• Per Capita Academic Performance: Calculated using the scores of the previous five indicators divided by the number of full-time equivalent academic staff, with data provided by universities or national agencies.

While the ARWU is best known for its annual global university rankings, the organization provides several related services:

• Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (GRAS): Assesses universities in specific academic subjects across five fields: natural sciences, engineering, life sciences, medical sciences, and social sciences.
• Greater China Ranking: Focuses on universities in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.
• Consultancy Services: Offers strategic analysis and planning support to universities aiming to improve their global rankings and performance.
• Rankings Data and Analysis: Provides detailed data and analysis for research and decision-making purposes.
• Conferences and Events: Organizes events to foster dialogue and share best practices among higher education professionals.

• Research Focus: Valued for emphasizing research output and quality.
• Limited Scope: Criticized for focusing primarily on research performance, which may not capture teaching quality or overall student experience.
• Bias Towards Established Institutions: Emphasis on Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals favors older, more established universities.
• Lack of Diversity: Methodology may favor English-speaking and well-funded institutions, leading to underrepresentation of other regions.

The Shanghai ARWU is a significant tool for assessing global university research performance. However, it is essential to use it in conjunction with other sources and personal preferences to make well-informed decisions about higher education institutions.