The International Discourse on University Rankings and the Communiversity Appraisal System was held virtually recently, streaming presentations and discussions to strengthen the proposal for a new appraisal system that is more dynamic and attuned to the pressing global agenda of sustainability.
The conference was organised by the Communiversity Project Task Force formed of several universities from Malaysia, namely the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), the University of Technology Malaysia (UTM), University of Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), University of Putra Malaysia (UPM), and last but not least, the Technical University of Malaysia Melaka (UTeM). The task force was mandated and funded by the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia. The conference was supported by Qatar University (QU), which was represented by Prof Mariam Al Maadeed, the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies.
The conference aimed to develop a new tailored university appraisal system, share good practices of university performance measurement, and establish a network of universities that promote sustainability-based appraisal systems.
Prof. Al Maadeed opened the conference and emphasised the importance of such an initiative to raise the quality of higher education institution’s research, education, and public service and to strengthen their impact on the realization of Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 agenda. She also expressed her pride in the current international collaboration of QU in research and graduate studies and in the fruitful ongoing collaboration between QU and Malaysian universities in vital fields that serve the mutual interests of both sides.
In his keynote speech, Prof. Dzulkifli Abdul Razak, Rector of the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), explained the purpose of higher education in terms of social, economic, and environmental aspects that intersect and lead to the achievement of sustainable development.
Among the different presentations shared by colleagues from Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, Canada, and Qatar explaining these case studies on universities’ appraisal and rankings, Cesar Wazen, the Director of QU International Affairs Office, presented QU’s success story in maintaining its mission while navigating through rankings, giving some insights on the improvement in ranking that QU has witnessed.
