'World-Class' Universities: Rankings and Reputation in Global Higher Education

Discussions of "world-class" universities have become an academic cottage industry in the 21st century, and definitions of the term are complex and at times contradictory. This background note traces the origins of university ranking systems and their evolution from a byproduct of lists of great men in the United States to a global phenomenon that has a strong influence on the development of higher education. Then it examines commonalities across various conceptions of "world-class," including productive faculty, excellent students, flexible administration, plentiful funding, and international engagement.