“We are more than just a position in a ranking.” This conviction motivated the University of Bremen to join the initiative launched in 2022 by the International Network of Research Management Societies (INORMS). The initiative addresses the overreliance on university rankings and promotes a more balanced understanding of the quality and impact universities have.
The decision to join was made in close consultation with the University of Oldenburg, the University of Bremen’s partner in the Northwest Alliance.
“By joining the INORMS More Than Our Rank initiative, we at the University of Bremen demonstrate that we are committed to a responsible evaluation and believe in a broader and more diverse definition of success,” explains Professor Michal Kucera, Vice President for Research and Transfer at the University of Bremen.
The MTOR initiative does not seek to question university rankings in principle. Rather, it wants to take a critical look at these rankings and highlight that the institutional achievements and contributions of universities go far beyond the aspects reflected in the respective rankings.
“Reducing academic achievements to a single number does not do justice to the diversity of universities. Focusing too much on rankings can create false incentives. In our view, a shift in perspective is necessary. We need more cooperation instead of competition,” Professor Kucera states. “We need new, alternative evaluation approaches that focus on parameters such as social impact and sustainability. We are more than happy to participate in international comparisons. However, these should be based on diverse, transparent criteria. They should not be driven by commercial interests. Universities should be encouraged to highlight their individual strengths and unique circumstances.”
Participating Organizations
Since its inception, many leading higher education policy organizations have joined the MTOR initiative. These include the European University Association (EUA) and the YERUN network (Young European Research Universities), of which the University of Bremen is a member.
Further Information:
https://inorms.net/more-than-our-rank/
https://northwest-alliance.de/en/
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Michal Kucera
Vice President for Research and Transfer
University of Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-60021
Email: kon1protect me ?!uni-bremenprotect me ?!.de
