Global University Rankings: Characterization of Higher Education, Institution’s Competitiveness

Global university rankings serve as information tool for students in choosing their studies, whereas institutional leaders regard them as a management and strategic decision-making tool. However, little is known about the relevance of global university rankings for developing countries like the Philippines. Using cluster analysis and stepwise regression, this study investigated the competitiveness indicators among clusters of top-ranking universities from three different global university-ranking organizations namely. Furthermore, it also created a best-fit model that accurately predicts institutional performance that could be used by universities in the Philippines that have not made it yet in the global ranking. The data were gathered from the official results of the 2022 global rankings from Times Higher Education (THE), Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), and Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU). In assessing the data gathered, the study used cluster analysis and then stepwise regression to come up with the best-fit model. The results of the cluster analysis revealed that the three ranking organizations use diverse factors that contribute to institutional rankings. Each ranking system provides a different lens through which to view and understand the global landscape of higher education. On the other hand, the stepwise regression revealed that Model 3 that combined the THE, Shanghai, and QS rankings predictors serves as the best fit model as it showed a very high positive relationship. Hence, this study concluded that focusing on the key metrics common among the ranking organizations can help institutions drive effective strategies for elevating their rankings.