On March 22 the International multimedia press center MIA “Russia today” has held a Moscow – London video conference on “QS ranking by subject: movement of Russian universities”, devoted to the just published QS University Ranking by Subject – 2016.
As previously reported, the British consulting company Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) has published results of a subject ranking of world universities, which were assessed in 42 educational disciplines. MEPhI is included in the top 100 in “Physics and astronomy” for the second year in a row. In “Mathematics” the University is in the group 301-400.
The briefing was attended by the rector of MEPhI Mikhail Strikhanov, Director of project office of the Program 5-100 in St. Petersburg State Polytechnical University Sergey Salcutsan, Professor of Moscow State Linguistic University Marina Salkova, head of the Information and analytical Department at MCPPU Anna Shvedovskaya. The QS Regional director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia Zoya Zaitseva joined the event from London via video link.
The expert of the rating company noted with great pleasure that almost all universities have done well in the subject rankings, showing a significant positive trend: “I am very glad to see more and more Russian universities in the ranking. If in time of the first issue Russian presence was barely visible on the international arena, the current results more adequately reflect the situation in Russian higher education”.
At the same time, despite considerable success, there are a number of problems. The main is the low recognition of universities that, according to Zoya Zaitseva, is largely related to the weak participation of Russian experts in assessment. Also “Russian universities need a little more openness and a little less modesty, more news about scientific achievements and successes of the University, about its students and graduates”.
MEPhI rector Mikhail Strikhanov continued the topic. According to him, global ratings are an independent assessment of Russian universities. “If the University is not involved in this process, it either does not understand the importance of such participation, or he doing so bad that he has nothing to submit to the experts’ judgment”, he said. “Opinion that we have the best education in the world comes from the Soviet times... But today the situation has changed and universities need to make significant efforts to confirm the quality of the education they offer”.
According to him, the Ministry of Education and Science takes “correct and active efforts to bring Russian universities from the state of lethargy”. Through the example of Universities-participants of the Project 5-100, Mikhail Strikhanov clearly noted the significant qualitative differences between universities of the “first wave” and those who have recently joined the program.
Commenting on the results of the QS subject ranking, rector of the University, traditionally included in the top 100 of world rankings in “Physics and astronomy” and “Natural science”, said: “For historical reasons up to 2010 MEPhI was a “closed” University. That’s why now we have two “losing positions” in the rankings: the number of foreign professors and foreign students. But participating in the Project 5-100 we managed to radically change these figures, increasing it up to 13% and 12% respectively, which allowed the University to take a leading position in the quantity of foreign teachers among the Project’s universities and 5-6th in foreign students”.
“In general Russian universities need to be prepared for different situations, carry out intensive work so that to become visible in the world. I am sure Russian universities has a great future”, said Mikhail Strikhanov.
During the video conference participants expressed the unanimous opinion that rating studies are also of great importance for entrants as they help future students to properly navigate in the educational space.
