This week saw the long-awaited publication of the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 results, more than seven years since the last exercise (REF 2014). Undertaken by representative higher education funding bodies of the four nations of the UK, it the most comprehensive evaluation of the research impact of UK universities.

With the rankings still in their relative infancy, there was a change in the methodology for 2022 to include SDG 17 ‘partnerships for the goals, and, as a result, we have a lot more movement in the rankings compared to the more established world rankings tables. We look at a few of the key trends and observations of this year’s release and explore what the future may hold for them

Mark Sudbury, Head of World 100 and Reputation, looks at the 2022 impact rankings, overall trends and how World 100 members have performed.

Mark Sudbury, Head of World 100 and Reputation, looks at the 2021 reputation rankings, overall trends and how World 100 members have performed.

Mark Sudbury, Head of World 100 and Reputation, looks at the 2021 WUR rankings, overall trends and how World 100 members have performed.

Mark Sudbury, Head of World 100 and Reputation, looks at the 2021 ARWU rankings, overall trends and how World 100 members have performed.

In 2021, it is impossible to discuss the subject of reputation without looking at the impact of Covid19, and this is perhaps another key sign that an institution’s reputation cannot be solely attributable to rankings.

Rankings and reputation are entwined but reputation is about more than rankings. That was the key conclusion from a World 100-moderated session at the THE Arab Rankings Forum on 27 July. World 100 Director Louise Simpson discussed ‘Using Rankings to Enhance Reputation’ with a panel of experts from some of the biggest universities in the Arab region.

Mark Sudbury, Head of World 100 and Reputation, looks at the 2021 QS world university rankings, overall trends and how World 100 members have performed.

World 100 members have again proved the link between reputation and the real-world impact of universities, achieving 4 of the top 10 places (and 9 of the top 20) in the latest THE Impact Rankings published on 21st April 2021.

Rankings Watch is a regular feature from Mark Sudbury, Head of Global Network Development, looking at activity in the university rankings. This month's segment looks at the US News & World Report’s Best Global Universities, the last of this year’s “big four” rankings, published in late October; followed by the THE Reputation Rankings.

The latest league table published by Academic Ranking of World Universities shows a higher degree of change from the previous year than is usually expected from this most stable of the global rankings.