Hong Kong University of Science and Technology comes in third in ranking of young institutions
But academic warns against overreliance on such rankings as they often focus on international research and publications as opposed to teaching
The 25-year-old University of Science and Technology has risen one place to third among young universities in a British ranking.
But City University, founded in 1984, and Polytechnic University, founded in 1972, dropped six and four places respectively to 20th and 27th in the ranking, published by the London-based magazine, Times Higher Education.
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However, Lingnan University vice-president and chair professor of comparative policy Joshua Mok Ka-ho said the public should not use rankings, especially those compiled by commercial organisations, as the only reference for university performance.
Mok said such rankings often favoured international research and publications.
He also questioned the method some organisations used to compile rankings, saying Lingnan was once listed on an international ranking for education and geography, even though it had no such courses.
“Students’ learning experience is often taken lightly in these rankings,” said Mok. “But that’s what I as an educator want to focus on.”