The influence of wealth, transparency, and democracy on the number of top ranked universities
| Pages | 108-122 |
| Date | 07 April 2015 |
| Published date | 07 April 2015 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/QAE-07-2013-0033 |
| Author | Naceur Jabnoun |
| Subject Matter | Education,Curriculum, instruction & assessment,Educational evaluation/assessment |
The inuence of wealth,
transparency, and democracy on
the number of top ranked
universities
Naceur Jabnoun
SSPGE, Ras al-Khaimah, UAE
Abstract
Purpose – This paper aims to explore the inuence of wealth, transparency and democracy on the
number of universities per million people ranked among the top 300 and 500. The highly ranked
universities in the world tend to be concentrated in a few countries.
Design/methodology/approach – ANOVA was used to test the differences between the two groups
in terms of three key national variables that are likely to affect higher education. These variables are
gross domestic product per capita (GDPPC), transparency and democracy. Cluster analysis was used to
nd out if there were any groupings of countries based on the number of top-ranked universities and the
above three variables. Correlation analysis was also used to conrm the relationship between the key
variables and the number of universities among the top 500 and 300 universities per million people.
Finally, partial correlations and linear regression were used to identify the most important factor(s)
affecting the number of universities among the top 500 and 300 universities per million people.
Findings – ANOVA revealed that countries with top-ranked universities had higher GDPPC,
transparency and democracy levels than countries with no top-ranked universities. Cluster analysis
resulted in two groups of countries: one group of countries with a higher number of ranked universities,
higher democracy level, higher transparency and higher GDPPC. The other group had lower values for
each of the above variables. Pearson correlations conrmed that the number of top universities per
million people is related to the three national variables. Partial correlation and regression revealed that
transparency is the only signicant factor that directly determines the number of universities among
the top 500 in the world. On the other hand, both transparency and GDPPC are signicant in
determining the number of universities ranked in the top 300 per million people. This means that
universities ranked among the top 500 are generally found in countries with higher transparency levels,
while top 300 universities are generally found in countries that have both higher transparency levels
and higher GDPPC.
Research limitations/implications – This paper paves the way for further research on
transparency and ethics in higher education. The impact of wealth, transparency and democracy can
also be measured in other industries, and particularly those linked to learning and innovation.
Practical implications – This paper draws the attention to the fact that top universities are found in
richer, more democratic and more transparent countries. It, however, indicates that the single factor
associated with the number of universities ranked among the top 500 is transparency. Policy makers
should therefore focus on increasing transparency to increase the likelihood of having top-ranked
universities. Having universities ranked among the 300 is also linked to having higher GDPPC. This
indicates that transparency can drive all other factors associated with having universities ranked
among the rst 500 in the world, but further improvement of university ranking to rst 300 universities
also requires greater nancial strength. This is understandable given the expense associated with
attracting rst-class faculty members and having world-class research programs.
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/0968-4883.htm
QAE
23,2
108
Received 23 July 2013
Revised 9 January 2014
8 May 2014
Accepted 16 October 2014
QualityAssurance in Education
Vol.23 No. 2, 2015
pp.108-122
©Emerald Group Publishing Limited
0968-4883
DOI 10.1108/QAE-07-2013-0033
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