The global study was conducted by the European Scientific and Industrial Chamber with a grant from the European Union. The data was processed at the University of Brussels, Belgium.
The first place in this category was taken by the Kyrgyz-Turkish University "Manas," the second by the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University (KRSU), the third by the International University of Kyrgyzstan (MUK), and the fourth by the American University in Central Asia (AUCA).
A total of 2,678 universities from around the world participated in the EU ranking, which uses the credit-hour system practiced in Europe. It is noteworthy that only universities from Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan participated from Central Asia in the study.
The results of the current ranking came as a surprise to the global educational community. Previously, positions in the table were determined based on factors such as the number of Nobel laureates or Fields Medal winners (in mathematics) among the faculty, the presence of international students, publications in global scientific journals, and so on. Now, however, the ranking is based on the employability of graduates and employer feedback.
The 2014 ranking was determined using a nine-point international system: the first hundred universities belong to the highest level A (AAA, AA, A), the second hundred institutions are assigned level B (BBB, BB, B), and the third hundred is classified as "satisfactory level" C (CCC, CC, C). All other universities are classified as "below ranking."
Among domestic universities, the medical academy, the KTU named after Razakov, and the National University were rated "BB+" by European experts. Slightly lower in the table with a "BB" rating are the agricultural university, KSTU, and the Law Academy.
For comparison, in the EU ranking, out of 58 Russian universities, Lomonosov Moscow State University received the "AA+" rating. Among 23 Kazakhstani universities, five were classified as "BBB+" with Kazakh National Technical University named after Satpayev in the first place.
Ten universities of Kyrgyzstan made it into the European ranking. The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the International University of Kyrgyzstan, Asylbek Aydaraliev, commented on the results of the European study to "VB." According to him, there is now a pressing need in Europe to conduct a university ranking that prioritizes the employment rate of graduates.
"A large flow of migrant workers from other countries is sent to the EU, and it is important for them to know whom to hire. We all criticize domestic education, but independent monitoring shows that we have universities that can compete for top positions in the ranking on par with others. With proper funding, higher education can be raised to a qualitatively new level," Aydaraliev noted.
He also believes that the campaign to optimize universities should be conducted based on such a ranking.
"For example, there is an idea to merge KSTU and the Technical University, but in the world ranking, they hold quite high positions, so there is no point in merging two strong universities into one," says the expert.
At the same time, Aydaraliev acknowledges that a number of low-capacity universities should have their licenses revoked, be dissolved, or merged with other educational institutions.
"One of the ways to filter them out is to set a payment threshold. At one time, it was at the level of 300 dollars. This was the amount that the state allocated for one student per year. This was also required from commercial universities. Today, taking inflation into account, the threshold amount should be around 600 dollars. This will immediately cut off weak universities. Because today, it is difficult to find a competent specialist for a meager amount," concluded Asylbek Aydaraliev.
Source vb.kg
