QS University Rankings: EECA – Methodology

In lieu of a reliable or practical method by which to assess and compare teaching quality internationally, faculty/student ratio is considered. This is based on the number of students enrolled per full-time academic staff member, aiming to give an indication of each institution’s commitment to providing high standards of academic support.

Calculated using data from Elsevier’s Scopus – the world’s largest abstract and citation database of peer-reviewed academic literature – this indicator reflects research productivity, based on papers published per academic faculty member.

Based on the Webometrics ranking, this indicator reflects the extent of each institution’s online presence, one aspect of their commitment to international engagement and communication.

A priority and growing strength for many leading universities in the EECA region is the recruitment of academic staff members qualified to PhD level or the equivalent. Progress in this area is assessed by calculating the proportion of faculty members at this level.

Again based on data from the Scopus database, this indicator aims to assess research impact, based on the frequency with which an institution’s published papers are cited by other researchers around the world.

Finally, the last two indicators are based on the proportion of faculty members and students who are international. This provides an indication of the diversity of the institution’s community and learning environment, as well as reflecting success in attracting academics and students across national borders.

The 2015 edition of the QS University Rankings: EECA will be launched on 21 October. To be the first to get the results, follow us on Twitter and join the conversation with #QSWUR.