The Impact of Rankings on Russian Universities' Student Choice

Yagudina, Liliya

doi:10.4018/978-1-5225-3395-5.ch005

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

References 7 publications

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“…Reputation as generally captured by the university ranking is consistently identified as an essential determinant in the student choice process (Hazelkorn, 2018;Koenings et al, 2020). These rating systems play an increasingly important role as information tools for prospective students who expect value for money (Clarke, 2007;Yagudina, 2019). Academic ranking was the highest-ranked factor affecting the student choice process in a study conducted by Briggs (2006).…”

Section: Critical Factors Affecting University Choice In the Digital Eramentioning

confidence: 99%

Decision-making system for higher education university selection: comparison of priorities pre- and post-COVID-19

Nanath

Ali

Kaitheri

2021

JARHE

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PurposeUniversity selection in higher education is a complex task for aspirants from a decision-making perspective. This study first aims to understand the essential parameters that affect potential students' choice of higher education institutions. It then aims to explore how these parameters or priorities have changed given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Learning about the differences in priorities for university selection pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic might help higher education institutions focus on relevant parameters in the post-pandemic era.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a mixed-method approach, with primary and secondary data (university parameters from the website and LinkedIn Insights). We developed a university selector system by scraping LinkedIn education data of various universities and their alumni records. The final decision-making tool was hosted on the web to collect potential students' responses (primary data). Response data were analyzed via a multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) model. Portal-based data collection was conducted twice to understand the differences in university selection priorities pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic. A one-way MANOVA was performed to find the differences in priorities related to the university decision-making process pre- and post-COVID-19.FindingsThis study considered eight parameters of the university selection process. MANOVA demonstrated a significant change in decision-making priorities of potential students between the pre- and post-COVID-19 phases. Four out of eight parameters showed significant differences in ranking and priority. Respondents made significant changes in their selection criteria on four parameters: cost (went high), ranking (went low), presence of e-learning mode (went high) and student life (went low).Originality/valueThe current COVID-19 pandemic poses many uncertainties for educational institutions in terms of mode of delivery, student experience, campus life and others. The study sheds light on the differences in priorities resulting from the pandemic. It attempts to show how social priorities change over time and influence the choices students make.

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