What should be done to improve standing of humanities

Ranking of institutions and programs in social science and humanities presents an inherent problem for those undertaking such rankings due foremost to lack of adequate criteria and verifiable information, especially at the international level. At the same time historical as well as contemporary reasons give a rightful recognition of those activities when assessing quality of higher education. This is even timelier in the context of the growing attention given to ranking. In this general context, IREG Observatory has selected this issue as one of its on-going activities. The forthcoming meeting organized in the context of the General Assembly of IREG Observatory, is the first concrete action in this area. 

The IREG Round Table will examine current approaches and practices recognizing humanities and social science in academic rankings carried out by the international and national rankings. 

Challenges should not be underestimated, however, taking into consideration the increasing role of academic rankings it is our collective responsibility – those undertaking rankings as well as academic community - to join forces and make appropriate proposals. It is our expectation that presentations and discussions will contribute to formulation of basic elements for a more inclusive rankings in humanities and social sciences which we propose to call – the Warsaw Perspective on Rankings in Humanities and Social Sciences.
     
- Welcome and opening remarks
Jan Sadlak, President, IREG Observatory on Academic Ranking and Excellence

Chair: Andrzej Eliasz, Rector, Warsaw School of Social Sciences and Humanities/SWPS

Panel:
- Social Sciences in Academic Ranking of World Universities [Shanghai Ranking]
Nian Cai Liu, President, Shanghai Academic Consultancy, China

- How US News & World Report does ranking of programs in social sciences and humanities
Robert J. Morse, Director of Data Research, US News & World Report, USA
 
- Social sciences and humanities in German multi-dimensional ranking
Gero Federkeil, Manager, CHE – Centre for Higher Education Development, Germany

- How to improve the social sciences contribution and visibility: Case study of Romania
Paul Serban Agachi, President of the Academic Council, Babes-Bolyai University, Romania

- European Reference Index for the Humanities (ERIH) - Project of the Standing Committee for the Humanities of the European Science Foundation
Nina Kancewicz-Hoffman, European Science Foundation, France

- Towards Indicators of Research Performance in the Social Sciences and Humanities
Henk F. Moed, Senior Research Advisor at Elsevier, Member, Expert Group of the assessment of University-Based Research, European Commission

Social Sciences and Humanities/SWPS and Elsevier