Irina Arzhanova -PhD in Engineering Science,Executive Director of the National Training Foundation, 7/1, 1905-Year Street, 123022, Moscow, Russian Federation; E-mail: arzhanova@ntf.ru

Marina Baryshnikova -PhD in Education, Head of Higher Education Projects Department of the National Training Foundation, 7/1, 1905-Year Street, 123022, Moscow, Russian Federation; E-mail: baryshnikova@ntf.ru

Marina Larionova -Dr. of Political Science, Head of International Organisations Research Institute (IORI)of the National Research University Higher School of Economics, 20 Myasnitskaya, 101000, Moscow, Russian Federation; E-mail:mlarionova@hse.ru

Irina Lazutina –M.Sc in Cultural Management,Researcher at the Centre for International Comparative Studies of the International Organisations Research Institute (IORI) of the National Research University Higher School of Economics,20 Myasnitskaya, 101000, Moscow, Russian Federation; E-mail:ilazutina@hse.ru

Anastasya Lopatina -M.Sc in Political Economy, Intern at the US-Russia Civil Society Partnership Program, Eurasia Foundation, 1350 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20036, USA; E-mail:alopatina@eurasia.org

Vitaly Nagornov -PhD in Economics, Director of the Research Centre for International Cooperation and Development of the International Organisations Research Institute (IORI) ofthe National Research University “Higher School of Economics”, 20 Myasnitskaya, 101000, Moscow, Russian Federation; E-mail:VNagornov@hse.ru

Olga Perfilieva -PhD in Sociology,Director of the Centre for International Comparative Studies of the International Organisations Research Institute (IORI) ofthe National Research University Higher School of Economics, 20 Myasnitskaya, 101000, Moscow, Russian Federation; E-mail:Perfilieva@hse.ru

Lubov Zavarykina -MEd, Researcher at the Centre for International Comparative Studies of the International Organisations Research Institute (IORI) of the National Research University Higher School of Economics,20 Myasnitskaya, 101000, Moscow, Russian Federation; E-mail:lzavarykina@hse.ru

Vasily Zhurakovsky -Dr. of Engineering Science, Scientific Advisor at the National Training Foundation; 7/1, 1905-Year Street, 123022, Moscow, Russia; E-mail: zhurakovsky@ntf.ru

Abstract

The article presents a template methodology for multidimensional ranking of the Russian universities developed within the project «Developing and Approbating a Template Methodology for National Ranking of Higher Education Institutions» implemented by the National Training Foundation within a project of the Ministry of Education and Science, RF in 2011 - 2013. More than 100 Russian higher education institutions participated in the methodology approbation in 2012. The paper focuses on the methodology concept, its principles, tools, and methods of data processing.

The authors explore the definition of “multidimensional ranking” and demonstrate its benefits compared to single dimensional rankings. It is shown that the multidimensional approach for universities ranking is more suitable for assessing national higher education institutions as it takes into account the complexity and diversity of the national higher education system. The selected tools for ranking construction are described and the reasons for choosing these tools are explained. The evaluation areas (Research, Teaching, Internationalization, Knowledge Transfer and Engagement with Regional Stakeholders) and the system of indicators are also discussed.

It is demonstrated that the developed ranking methodology can be applied for a comprehensive evaluation of higher education institutions, their benchmarking and comparison, identification of HEIs’ strengths and weaknesses.