Hallmark of a World-Class University

This article describes the various salient features of a world-class university. Interestingly and intentionally the keywords used in describing it all start with the letters forming the word--WORLD-CLASS. On this note, the model becomes all the more pertinent and the key features easily remembered. Introduction Any self-respecting university from developed or developing countries aspires to a world-class standing; some benchmark against the Ivy League and others take Oxbridge as role models. Oxbridge and the Ivy League are indisputably world-class. The word 'world-class' has been much bandied about whenever and wherever debates and discussions on academic excellence crop up. Various views have been expressed regarding a world-class university and invariably scholarstic excellence is the theme. The realization of world-class universities is a dream of every researcher, higher education institution and government[1]. This article gives a model regarding 'worldclassness' and the notion is inspired by the key-word itself. Characteristic Features World-View--It is imperative for a world-class university or any university for that matter to have a forward looking world-view which is progressive and keeping abreast with the development of the world. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia for example regards itself as 'the national university with an international reach'. Seoul National University on the other hand considers itself as 'the university where the future of Korea takes shape' [2] University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign simply calls itself 'A world-class university'. Such invigorating self-images are certainly moral boosting to the institutions concerned. Inward looking will stifle academic and intellectual growth for no worldclass university should be an island, entire of itself. Opportunity--In this connection, a world-class university seeks and explores every opportunity to forge networking with other premier universities and research institutions of the world. The close collaborations in terms of research and teaching will certainly bring about a win-win situation; it is synergistic in nature. Research--Doing cutting edge basic and applied research is a norm in a world-class university. Excellence in terms of publications, patents and citations (all products of research) is the hallmark of a world-class university. In the words of Derek Bok, the former President of Harvard University, patents offer universities an incentive to work harder to identify valuable ideas discovered in their laboratories [3]. According to Ken Young [4], research in the university has never been more important to both individual and institutional fortune in view of the so-called 'audit explosion' and threats from competing pressure. The biennial Research Assessment Exercises carried out in Britain is a case in point. Learning--All world-class universities have traditionally a pervasive learning culture among their campus communities. In such environment learning is venerated and knowledge reigns supreme. Brandy Dahrouge of the University of Calgary opines that world-class universities rely on a diversity of expertise to enrich the lives of professors, students and communities. Drive--A world-class university constantly drives and pushes itself to scale greater heights such as increasing the number of Nobel laureates among its rank of professors. Many unabashedly mention the number of Nobelists among its faculty members and alumni in their prospectus. Cohesiveness exists in a world-class university. The esprit de corp among the campus community gives it a sense of shared mission and destiny. It also gives them a sense of belonging. Research needs concerted effort from the top professors to the technicians. It must be pointed out that anecdotal reports of resentment, estrangement and bickering are present but this type of cases are isolated [5]. Cohesiveness ensures that things are running smoothly in order to achieve success. …

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