The top league tables focus on research rather than teaching and programmes, so the EU is drawing up a new type of ranking that will also take into account methods of learning and the quality of teaching.

Under the auspices of the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers 2010, Denmark is hosting a conference on 15 April to discuss how the Nordic countries can use the new league tables.

Higher education institutions in the Region share a mutual interest in describing and publicising the high Nordic quality. The subject of ranking is also high on the education–policy agenda at national, European and global level, so it is important to start a constructive debate about how we exert influence on the nature of the ranking system and the indicators used to quantify quality.

“A new type of league table would benefit the universities as well as the users. Business often uses them as indicators of who to work with, and students look at them to decide on their destinations when planning academic exchange visits,” said the Danish Minister of Science, Charlotte Sahl-Madsen.

”Creating greater transparency in the Nordic higher-education landscape will make it easier to compare universities.”

The conference, part of the Danish programme for the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers 2010, has been organised by the Ministry of Science in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, and is being held in the Danish Design Centre. For further information, please refer to the conference website www.nordichepromotion.dk

Michael Funch
Phone +45 33960332
Email mifu@norden.org