• The Academic Rankings: Algorithm and Metrics explained

  • Feb 7 2025
  • Length: 5 mins
  • Podcast

The Academic Rankings: Algorithm and Metrics explained

  • Summary

  • AcademicJobs.com presents its 'Academic Rankings' initiative, a system evaluating academics beyond conventional metrics. The ranking employs a proprietary algorithm considering factors such as publications, teaching performance, and public profile. Eight key metrics contribute to the overall score, encompassing purpose, experience, publications, ambition, engagement, student feedback, affiliate influence, and public engagement. Recent publications and the impact of past work are both evaluated, alongside professional contributions like collaborations and mentorship. The system also factors in student feedback and the influence of peers and institutions. Ultimately, the ranking aims to promote and celebrate those actively contributing to excellence in higher education.

    ‘Celebrating and promoting those who have and continue to create excellence, impact and energy in higher education’

    The Academic Rankings initiative is a multifaceted system that goes beyond traditional metrics like publications and citations. It aims to capture a broader picture of an academic’s engagement, impact, and contributions to higher education by incorporating elements like collaborative activities, teaching performance (when relevant), and public profile. The proprietary algorithm and the variety of metrics are designed to create a specific type of ranking system that emphasizes engagement and outward focus as much as pure academic success.

    The Academic Ranking is algorithmically generated. Eight key metrics contribute to the overall ranking score:

    · Current Purpose & Motivation

    · Experience in your field

    · Publications – recent output & past impact

    · Academic Ambition

    · Current Academic Engagement

    · Student Feedback (if applicable)

    · Affiliate Influence – ranking s of peers / collaborating institutions

    · Willingness to engage publicly

    The Academic Rankings’ Metrics:

    · Current Purpose & Motivation: How you see yourself as an academic and what drives you. An honest reflection of where you are and what you want to achieve. This reflection is vital in creating a successful academic roadmap forward.

    · Experience in your field and awards: The length of time an individual has been an academic is a factor. This suggests that experience in the field contributes to a higher ranking. There is an opportunity for junior academics to identify why ‘achievement’ should outweigh years of experience in their case.

    Publications – recent output & past impact: The number of papers published in the last two years is a core component, reflecting "recent academic engagement." This emphasizes the importance of active scholarship. The ranking also considers "your most successful / cited academic paper/s." This acknowledges not just quantity but also the influence of research.


    Affiliate Influence – rankings of peers and collaborating institutions: The ranking takes into account who your collegiate influences are and where you are currently working. This acknowledges the impact of positive professional and institutional linkages.

    · Willingness to engage publicly: The academic's willingness to promote yourself publically, so you can be accessible to your academic community. This emphasises the importance of outreach and visibility.

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