In Hong Kong's brand-conscious society, university rankings attract much public attention. After all, universities' ranking and reputation are key considerations in many people's college selection criteria.
It is also common knowledge that there is a pecking order among the city's eight publicly funded universities, with the top three research-intensive institutions being the most sought after.
But making it into the top tier and staying there could be taking a toll on the quality of education. Academics have long lamented the heavy pressure to produce research work - a common factor in external recognition - which affects the amount of time spent with students.
There is also the issue of subjectivity. Besides research, ranking polls tend to look at factors such as faculty profiles, institutional reputation, alumni salaries and so on, with each poll attaching different weightings to different criteria.
But institutions' reputation sometimes 'lags behind reality', says Professor Philip Hanlon, provost of the University of Michigan, during a recent visit to Hong Kong. His college is ranked 14th globally by the QS Intelligence Unit survey.
For instance, some polls are discipline-oriented, having a strong focus on the outcome of business education or science training. Choosing the right college education therefore requires a clear understanding of the criteria and weightings used.
What's more, universities strong in disciplines such as science and engineering - as opposed to humanities and social sciences - are in a favourable position, since those disciplines tend to be more active in research.