Read the interview:
Sir Malcolm Grant challenges the global pursuit of university rankings and questions whether the current definition of a “world-class” institution truly serves the needs of diverse societies. Drawing from his experience leading top-ranked universities and advising governments internationally, Grant critiques the narrow metrics used in global rankings and the pressure they place on universities to conform to a single model. He reflects on the value of comprehensive universities that foster interdisciplinary collaboration and societal impact, while cautioning against the overemphasis on league tables that often fail to capture the true effectiveness of teaching. Grant highlights the limitations of current ranking systems, including their inability to measure educational quality and their tendency to drive institutional decisions based on superficial performance indicators.