Global and national university rankings: A multivariate analysis

Introduction. In the context of globalisation and internationalisation of higher education, university rankings are becoming an important tool for assessing the quality of education received by students at various higher education institutions around the world. These processes actualise the issues of possibilities for practical use of methodologies for calculation of global and national university rankings.The aim of the study was to develop and apply a methodological approach to multivariate the analysis of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) classification procedures, to construct and analyse aggregated indicators for global and national rating systems of higher education organisations, and to assess the relationship between them.Methodology and research methods. The current paper presents a system analysis of databases of rating systems and an aggregation of independent evaluations of global and national rankings of HEIs using the methodology of league table analysis based on mathematical apparatus of the voting theory. The dependence of global and national university rankings indicators was investigated using correlation, cluster, factor, regression (linear and polynomial) and dispersion methods of analysis.Results and scientific novelty. A comprehensive comparative analysis of ranking systems and their results was carried out. The authors solved the problem of aggregating multiple heterogeneous studies of global and national ranking systems with their qualitative and quantitative variety of criteria, indicators and methods of assessment. The correlation between the indicators of aggregated global and national rankings was revealed; the regression dependence of the integral national ranking with the results of the leading global rating systems was determined.Practical significance. The developed methodical approach is a convenient and effective mechanism for comprehensive monitoring of the members of educational process.

Does socioeconomic status have any influence on success at the national ranking exam?, a prospective survey

Background The weight of social inequalities during education is a reality. Students of lower socioeconomic status may have less chance of success in higher education, particularly in medical studies. However, the role of students’ socioeconomic factors, such as their parents’ profession, in their success in the national ranking exam (NRE) has not been studied. Our aim was to investigate the association between socioeconomic factors and success in the national ranking exam among sixth year medical students at the Paris-Sud Faculty of Medicine. Methods This was a prospective survey of all sixth-year medical students at the Paris-Sud Faculty of Medicine, using a questionnaire on socioeconomic factors, which were compared according to NRE rank. Results Of 172 sixth year medical students, 110 completed the questionnaire. Their ranking ranged from 20 to 7695, with a median of 2815 (interquartile range: 1029–4581). The factors associated with the NRE rank were a high school diploma (baccalauréat) A or B grade, success at the first attempt in the first-year medical examination, and enrollment in the NRE preparatory lectures during the sixth year of medical training (linear regression, p < 0.001). The educational status and socio-professional category of the parents were not associated with the NRE rank (linear regression, p = 0.92). Conclusion At the Paris-Sud Faculty of Medicine, there was no association between parental socioeconomic status and sixth year students’ success in the NRE.

Does socioeconomic status have any influence on success at the national ranking exam?, a prospective survey

Background: The weight of social inequalities during education is a reality. Students of lower socioeconomic status may have less chance of success in higher education, particularly in medical studies. However, the role of students' socioeconomic factors, such as their parents' profession, in their success in the national ranking exam (NRE) has not been studied.Our aim was to investigate the association between socioeconomic factors and success in the national ranking exam among sixth year medical students at the Paris-Sud Faculty of Medicine.Methods: This was a prospective survey of all sixth-year medical students at the Paris-Sud Faculty of Medicine, using a questionnaire on socioeconomic factors, which were compared according to NRE rank.Results: Of 172 sixth year medical students, 110 completed the questionnaire. Their ranking ranged from 20 to 7695, with a median of 2815 (interquartile range: 1029-4581). The factors associated with the NRE rank were a high school diploma (baccalauréat) A or B grade, success at the first attempt in the first-year medical examination, and enrollment in the NRE preparatory lectures during the sixth year of medical training (linear regression, p<0.001). The educational status and socio-professional category of the parents were not associated with the NRE rank (linear regression, p=0.92).Conclusion: At the Paris-Sud Faculty of Medicine, there was no association between parental socioeconomic status and sixth year students' success in the NRE.

Does socioeconomic status have any influence on success at the national ranking exam?, a prospective survey

Background: The weight of social inequalities during education is a reality. Students of lower socioeconomic status may have less chance of success in higher education, particularly in medical studies. However, the role of students' socioeconomic factors, such as their parents' profession, in their success in the national ranking exam (NRE) has not been studied.Our aim was to investigate the association between socioeconomic factors and success in the national ranking exam among sixth year medical students at the Paris-Sud Faculty of Medicine.Methods: This was a prospective survey of all sixth-year medical students at the Paris-Sud Faculty of Medicine, using a questionnaire on socioeconomic factors, which were compared according to NRE ranking.Results: Of 172 sixth year medical students, 110 completed the questionnaire. Their ranking ranged from 20 to 7695, with a median of 2815 (interquartile range: 1029-4581). The factors associated with the NRE ranking were a high school diploma (baccalauréat) A or B grade, success at the first attempt in the first-year medical examination, and enrollment in the NRE preparatory lectures during the sixth year of medical training (linear regression, p<0.001). The educational status and socio-professional category of the parents were not associated with the NRE ranking (linear regression, p=0.92).Conclusion: At the Paris-Sud Faculty of Medicine, there was no association between parental socioeconomic status and sixth year students' success in the NRE.

Open Budget as an Element of Open Governance

Nowadays, open governance is not just a recommendation or a fashion trend, but an urgent requirement. Open budget is an element of open government and it also means publication of citizens budgets and involving citizens in the decision-making process. Citizens budgets are published at all levels of government: federal and regional, and, are also evaluated at all these levels. There is Open Budget Index Ranking of the International Budget Partnership and that of the territorial entities of the Russian Federation. The article analyzes the place of the Russian Federation in the international ranking and the places of the territorial entities of the Siberian Federal District in the national ranking. Recommendations on improving citizens budget of Tuva Republic have been developed.

Predictive factors of success at the French National Ranking Examination (NRE): a retrospective study of the student performance from a French medical school

Background The national ranking examination (NRE) marks the end of the second cycle (6th university year) of French medical studies and ranks students allowing them to choose their specialty and city of residency. We studied the potential predictive factors of success at the 2015 NRE by students attending a French School of Medicine. Methods From March 2016 to March 2017, a retrospective study of factors associated with the 2015 NRE success was conducted and enrolled 242 students who attended their sixth year at the school of medicine of Reims. Demographic and academic data collected by a home-made survey was studied using univariate and then multivariate analysis by generalized linear regression with a threshold of p < 0.05 deemed significant. Results The factors independently associated with a better ranking at the NRE were the motivation for the preparation of the NRE (gain of 3327 ± 527 places, p < 0.0001); to have participated in the NRE white test organized by la Revue du Praticien in November 2014 (gain of 869 ± 426 places, p < 0.04), to have participated in the NRE white test organized by la conférence Hippocrate in March 2015 (+ 613 places ±297, p < 0.04). The factors independently associated with poor NRE ranking were repeating the first year (loss of 1410 places ±286, p < 0.0001), repeating a year during university course (loss of 1092 places ±385, p < 0.005), attendance of hospital internships in 6th year (loss of 706 places ±298, p < 0.02). Conclusions The student motivation and their white tests completion were significantly associated with success at the NRE. Conversely, repeating a university year during their course and attendance of 6th year hospital internships were associated with a lower ranking.

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR ENSURING RESEARCH INTEGRITY IN UKRAINIAN UNIVERSITIES

The article explores the issue of formation of integrity research environment in universities. National legislation on implementation of academic integrity policies and procedures in Ukrainian universities is analyzed. To evaluate experience and practices of Ukrainian universities in assuring research integrity, the documents presented on websites of three leading Ukrainian universities according to the National Ranking «Top 200» (2019) are analyzed and compared with the documents used in the process of ensuring research integrity by UK universities as world leaders in higher education. Possible measures for overcoming the crisis of research integrity in Ukrainian universities are proposed.

Does socioeconomic status have any influence on success at the national ranking exam?, a prospective survey

Background: The weight of social inequalities during education is a reality. Students of lower socioeconomic status may have less chance of success in higher education, particularly in medical studies. However, the role of students' socioeconomic factors, such as their parents' profession, in their success in the national ranking exam (NRE) has not been studied Our aim was to investigate the association between socioeconomic factors and success in the national ranking exam among sixth year medical students at the Paris-Sud Faculty of Medicine. Methods: This was a prospective survey of all sixth-year medical students at the Paris-Sud Faculty of Medicine, using a questionnaire on socioeconomic factors, which were compared according to NRE results.Results : Of 172 sixth year medical students, 110 completed the questionnaire. Their ranking ranged from 20 to 7695, with a median of 2815 (interquartile range: 1029-4581). The factors associated with ranking in the top 1500 were a high school diploma ( baccalauréat ) A or B grade, success at the first attempt in the first-year medical examination, and enrollment in the NRE preparatory lectures during the sixth year of medical training. The educational status and socio-professional category of the parents were not associated with ranking among the top 1500 medical students.Conclusion : At the Paris-Sud Faculty of Medicine, there was no association between parental socioeconomic status and sixth year students' success in the NRE.