Mixed reactions greet university rankings

The rankings have been conducted by the UK-based Times Higher Education (THE).

In the top 10 list, Uganda’s Makerere University and the University of Global Health Equity of Rwanda (UGHE) are ranked five and eight, respectively, in a category dominated by South African universities.

The sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings were developed specifically to address the challenges faced by higher education institutions in sub-Saharan Africa, according to THE.

The organisation says the methodology for the rankings was developed through extensive engagement with university leaders across the region under a project initiated by a consortium of African and international higher education organisations and Ashesi University in Ghana.

The rankings for 2023 were officially announced on Monday, June 26, 2023, at its first forum in the region, with the University of Dar es Salaam ranked number 21.

But Prof Raphael Chibunda, Vice Chancellor of the Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), whose institution has been one of the best in the country and gained an international profile through other rankings in recent years, said they could not participate in the THE ranking due to the procedures involved. “We do not send applications for such rankings because they demand payments. It seems like a business, Prof Chibunda noted.

He said SUA participates in other rankings, such as webometrics (university ranking), whose parameters are well known.

The absence of well-known universities has, in fact, left tongues wagging.

Universities such as SUA, the University of Dodoma (UDOM), Mzumbe University, and private ones like St Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT) are not featured on the list.

Some educational experts claim that the process of finding the best universities has not been very clear and genuine through such rankings.

“This is totally a marketing/promotion strategy aimed at raising the participating institutions’ global profile. So we cannot say that all those on that list are the best in terms of quality,” said Dr Thomas Jabir, an educational consultant based in Dar es Salaam.

But to Dr Eugenia Njovu, a former lecturer at Mzumbe University, rankings are part of strengthening the quality of universities, as each one will want to meet the criteria so that it can be listed and known.

“Despite the fact that there are times when colleges are required to send their details of what they are doing to ranking institutions, there are still some that do not make it to the list.

Consequently, our colleges should participate in large numbers if they want to build that global profile,” she said.

“I am surprised to see large universities in East Africa such as Nairobi, Kenyatta, and SUA not on this list,” she added. The sub-Saharan rankings have been developed specifically to assess the impact of universities on addressing some of the toughest challenges facing communities in the region.

“We use carefully calibrated indicators to provide comprehensive and balanced comparisons across three vital areas: teaching, research, and societal impact,” reads part of THE message on its website.

The organisation says that the development work for the ranking was undertaken in consultation with university leaders across sub-Saharan Africa in a project initiated by a consortium of African and international higher education organisations and companies.

“This first edition ranks 88 universities across 20 countries. An additional 33 institutions are listed because they provided data but did not meet our eligibility criteria to receive a rank,” says THE.

MUHAS, Ardhi, in the list

MUHAS’ acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof Appolinary Kamuhabwa, said one of their secrets was investing in community-based, fruitful research and continuing to create highly skilled medical professionals who work in both domestic and international hospitals.

“We have done a lot of work in research, and currently we have attracted funding for more than 135 projects that aim to respond to society’s needs... Our researchers have published in internationally prestigious peer-reviewed journals,” he said.

“We continue to improve by adding important programmes that can make the professionals we train the most competent in the health field in Sub-Saharan Africa,” he said.

Ardhi University’s Vice Chancellor, Prof Evaristo Liwa, said the methodology they use in teaching, which is project-oriented, gives their graduates competence and the ability to work. This, he said, is one of the criteria they sent for consideration at THE.

“Our students are already helping several municipal councils on matters of land. This is because we normally attach them to various councils to help with land issues, thus impacting society,” said Prof Liwa.

Research and currently we have attracted funding for more than 135 projects that aim to respond to society’s needs… Our researchers have published in famous journals in the world," he said.

"We continue to improve by adding important programmes to continue preparing professionals in our health sectors, believing that we can as well lead the rest in sub-Saharan Africa and that is our aim," he said.

Ardhi University’s Vice Chancellor, Prof Evaristo Liwa, said the methodology they use in teaching that is project oriented gave their graduates competence and ability to work. This, he said, is one of the criteria they sent for consideration at THE.

"Our students are already helping several municipal councils on matters of land. This is because we normally attach them with various councils to help in land issues, thus impacting the society," said Prof Liwa.