Makerere ranking improves
Feb 04, 2009
MAKERERE University has improved in the latest ranking of top African universities. The January 2009 Web of the World Universities, Webometrics, ranking places Makerere at the 32nd position, up from the 59th in July last year. Its world position also pick
By Conan Businge
MAKERERE University has improved in the latest ranking of top African universities.
The January 2009 Web of the World Universities, Webometrics, ranking places Makerere at the 32nd position, up from the 59th in July last year. Its world position also picked up from 7,836 to 4,836 in the last six months. It was one of Makerere’s best rankings in the last decade. When the grading was first published in 2004, Makerere was at the 18th position. It slipped to 23rd in 2005 and 24th in 2006.
The better rating, said senior academics, came about after Makerere created a number of websites in departments and faculties.
Among the most prominent websites are the ones on university policies and the staff directory, said Ali Ndiwalana of the Directorate of Information and Technology support.
“Whereas Makerere might be performing much better than other institutions in both academic and research terms, as long as the outputs are not disseminated online, its ranking will not truly reflect what is being done,†Ndiwalana argued.
“Web presence measures the activity and visibility of the institutions and it is a good indicator of impact and prestige of universities,†Webometrics said on its website.
“Rank summarises the global performance of the university, provides information for candidate students and scholars and reflects the commitment to the dissemination of scientific knowledge.â€
Although Makerere has dropped in ranking, it is the only Ugandan university on the list. In 2007, the Uganda Christian University emerged 97th. But it has not been considered for the last two years.
MAKERERE University has improved in the latest ranking of top African universities.
The January 2009 Web of the World Universities, Webometrics, ranking places Makerere at the 32nd position, up from the 59th in July last year. Its world position also picked up from 7,836 to 4,836 in the last six months. It was one of Makerere’s best rankings in the last decade. When the grading was first published in 2004, Makerere was at the 18th position. It slipped to 23rd in 2005 and 24th in 2006.
The better rating, said senior academics, came about after Makerere created a number of websites in departments and faculties.
Among the most prominent websites are the ones on university policies and the staff directory, said Ali Ndiwalana of the Directorate of Information and Technology support.
“Whereas Makerere might be performing much better than other institutions in both academic and research terms, as long as the outputs are not disseminated online, its ranking will not truly reflect what is being done,†Ndiwalana argued.
“Web presence measures the activity and visibility of the institutions and it is a good indicator of impact and prestige of universities,†Webometrics said on its website.
“Rank summarises the global performance of the university, provides information for candidate students and scholars and reflects the commitment to the dissemination of scientific knowledge.â€
Although Makerere has dropped in ranking, it is the only Ugandan university on the list. In 2007, the Uganda Christian University emerged 97th. But it has not been considered for the last two years.