Content-type: text/html Downes.ca ~ Stephen's Web ~ Exploring the challenges and opportunities of a new online learning ranking

Stephen Downes

Knowledge, Learning, Community

"Times Higher Education (THE) recently announced the launch of a global online learning ranking to add to their growing suite," writes Neil Mosley. I admit that I nearly laughed out loud when I read this. I can't imagine anyone has access to enough relevant data to offer any sort of reliable ratings of online learning. And anyway, it only covers institutions that offer accredited degree-granting programs, so if there's any alternative that beats that (which I'm sure there is) we won't hear about it. Also, as Mosley notes, "One notable feature of this new ranking is its exclusion of business schools and degrees," though as he says, "it likely stems from their recent acquisition of Poet and Quants... Including business in the online learning ranking could create competition with a company they now own." I have said before that ranking systems are just attempts by publications to impose their own values onto a marketplace. I don't see how this is any different.

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Stephen Downes Stephen Downes, Casselman, Canada
stephen@downes.ca

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Last Updated: Dec 22, 2024 12:42 a.m.

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