Maclean's ranking: Concordia on right track

Concordia has made some positive inroads in the Maclean’s 2010 University Rankings released November 10, most notably with respect to its national reputation.

Reputationally, the university ranked 24th out of 49 Canadian universities in the “Best Overall” category. In key areas of quality, leadership and innovation, the university ranks in the top 25. There has been significant improvement in the perception of Concordia as a quality institution (ranked 25th), an innovator (ranked 23rd) and among the leaders of tomorrow (ranked 22nd).

Concordia’s growing reputation has been recognized by the 2010 ranking and the issue features a story that puts the university in the spotlight: “No ivy here: Learning at these three schools happens outside the lecture hall.” The article acknowledges how the Maclean’s ranking can “obscure many of the innovative aspects of a Concordia education.”

Reasons for optimism
Concordia is ranked sixth in three categories: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Grants, Library Holdings per FTE (full-time equivalent) Student and Reputational Survey. These account for 31 percent of the total score. Maclean’s indicators peg Concordia at 11th out of 12 comprehensive universities.

Among the 49 Canadian universities ranked, Concordia is also a major draw for first-year students from both outside the province (ranked 11th) and outside the country (ranked 14th). In particular, Concordia has become a key destination for international graduate students, ranking 8th out of 27 universities which provide the largest offerings of graduate programs.

“We are clearly on the right track,” says Concordia President Judith Woodsworth. “The areas in which we have shown improvement are key elements in the university’s strategic framework. We have invested our energies well, and we are starting to see the results.”

Considering the Maclean’s rankings are based on data that, in some cases, dates back to 2007, there is even more reason for optimism.

A number of initiatives have been implemented recently and there is every reason to believe that Concordia’s ranking will improve in other areas. However, it must be underlined that comprehensive institutions such as Concordia don’t fit the mould created by Maclean’s and will continue to be disadvantaged.

The ranking does not fully account for the differences in mission and disciplinary mix that make each institution unique. “There is no generally agreed-upon measure of institutional quality, nationally or internationally,” explains Brad Tucker, Director of Concordia’s Institutional Planning Office.

“Concordia does very well in some rankings and not so well in others,” he continues. “Each is based on a different system of measurement that emphasizes different criteria that are important to the organization conducting the ranking.”

President Woodsworth adds: “We want Concordia to be recognized for what it is—a responsive, dynamic institution with close ties to our community. Our innovative teaching, research and program offerings, our commitment to society and the opportunities we offer our students contribute to the university’s distinct place in Montreal, Quebec and Canada. This is what some rankings fail to capture.”

The Maclean’s ranking system also poses challenges for universities in Quebec because of financial indicators. Since Quebec universities are considered to be underfunded in relation to those in other provinces—to the tune of an estimated $500 million annually for the 2007-08 academic year—this means that most Quebec universities are at a disadvantage when it comes to the Maclean’s rankings.

McGill University is the one exception. But the latest figures (from 2009) show McGill’s endowment to be 11 times the size of Concordia’s and seven times that of the Université de Montréal. As a result, in both the Medical/Doctoral and the Comprehensive categories, all but one Quebec university find themselves at the bottom of the rankings.

Interview with Brad Tucker, Director of Concordia's Office of Institutional Planning, on CJAD's The Ric Peterson Show: