Resumo

ORDORIKA, Imanol  e  RODRIGUEZ GOMEZ, Roberto. The Times ranking for the market of university prestige. Perfiles educativos [online]. 2010, vol.32, n.129, pp.8-29. ISSN 0185-2698.

This article analyzes the World University Ranking of the Times Higher Education, one of the most important and famous international rankings, with a special emphasis on the how this ranking has been designed and methodologically built up. Starting from a longitudinal study the authors analyze the regional distribution and the linguistic affinities, and the institutional mobility as well, including the variability of the first 200 universities in each edition of this ranking (between 2004 and 2009). Within this context the authors study more specifically how the universities of Latin America behave. And based on the previous reflections the Times Higher Education ranking is finally considered as a commercially oriented ranking, condition that explains the main part of its attributes, features and results, but also its shortcomings and lack of liability.

Palavras-chave : Universities; University rankings; Competence; Prestige; Assessment; Public policies.