Academic Quality and Ranking: A Methodical Approach for Departmental Ranking of Colleges and Universities in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The importance of academic ranking as a marketing strategy in the educational market is evinced even in Middle East countries in recent times. The paper attempts to develop an academic quality assessment model using a composite index which can be applied to colleges and universities in Saudi Arabia. The criteria applied in the model are based on the quality indicators used by major global ranking agencies in the field such as Shanghai ranking, THES ranking and so on. Using the department-level data collected from Yanbu Industrial College the model is demonstrated and departments are rated and ranked. The academic quality index and its indicator indices are useful to identify the department level strengths and weaknesses.