The impact of global university rankings on the institutional identity of Yemeni universities
Abstract
The study aimed to identify the level of influence of international university rankings on the institutional identity of Yemeni universities. To achieve the study’s objective, the researchers used the questionnaire as a tool to collect information according to the descriptive analytical approach. It was applied to a deliberate sample of Yemeni universities, numbering (4) universities. Including two government universities (Sana’a University and Aden University) and two private universities (University of Science and Technology and Al-Razi University). The sample size was (400) individuals from academic and administrative leaders, faculty members and graduate students, who were randomly selected. The results of the study showed that the overall impact of global rankings on the institutional identity of Yemeni universities from the point of view of the sample members is a high impact with an arithmetic mean of (3.73) points, and a small standard deviation of (0.367) points, and the academic and research identity was the most affected by global rankings with an arithmetic mean of (3.71) points, corresponding to a “high” degree with a standard deviation of (0.570). The administrative and organizational identity was the least affected by the global rankings with an arithmetic mean of (3.04) points, corresponding to an "average" score with a standard deviation of (.675). The results also showed differences in the average responses for all areas attributable to the study variables. The studyconcluded that Yemeni universities face a strategic choice: either passively integrate into global ranking criteria at the expense of their identity, or adopt a critical and proactive approach that transforms the challenge into an opportunity for reform. The study recommended adopting the second path through: preserving the essence (identity), openness to the world (globality), reforming the internal structure (quality and governance), and unifying efforts (exploiting homogeneity in visions)
