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Size, Internationalization, and University Rankings: Evaluating and Predicting Times Higher Education (THE) Data for Japan

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  • Michael McAleer

    (Department of Finance, Asia University, Taichung 41354, Taiwan
    Discipline of Business Analytics, University of Sydney Business School, Sydney 2006, Australia
    Econometric Institute, Erasmus School of Economics, Erasmus University Rotterdam, 3000 Rotterdam, The Netherlands
    Department of Economic Analysis and ICAE, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain)

  • Tamotsu Nakamura

    (Graduate School of Economics, Kobe University, Kobe 657-8501, Japan)

  • Clinton Watkins

    (Graduate School of Economics, Kobe University, Kobe 657-8501, Japan)

Abstract

International and domestic rankings of academics, academic departments, faculties, schools and colleges, institutions of higher learning, states, regions, and countries are of academic and practical interest and importance to students, parents, academics, and private and public institutions. International and domestic rankings are typically based on arbitrary methodologies and criteria. Evaluating how the rankings might be sensitive to different factors, as well as forecasting how they might change over time, requires a statistical analysis of the factors that affect the rankings. Accurate data on rankings and the associated factors are essential for a valid statistical analysis. In this respect, the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings represent one of the three leading and most influential annual sources of international university rankings. Using recently released data for a single country, namely Japan, the paper evaluates the effects of size (specifically, the number of full-time-equivalent (FTE) students, or FTE (Size)) and internationalization (specifically, the percentage of international students, or IntStud) on academic rankings using THE data for 2017 and 2018 on 258 national, public (that is, prefectural or city), and private universities. The results show that both size and internationalization are statistically significant in explaining rankings for all universities, as well as separately for private and non-private (that is, national and public) universities, in Japan for 2017 and 2018.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael McAleer & Tamotsu Nakamura & Clinton Watkins, 2019. "Size, Internationalization, and University Rankings: Evaluating and Predicting Times Higher Education (THE) Data for Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-12, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:5:p:1366-:d:211118
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    international and domestic rankings; size; internationalization; national; public and private universities; changes over time;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C18 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Methodolical Issues: General
    • C81 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Methodology for Collecting, Estimating, and Organizing Microeconomic Data; Data Access
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • Y1 - Miscellaneous Categories - - Data: Tables and Charts

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