The 2008 Academic Ranking of World Universities

Well UofT made it (#24 overall, #19 in North America), so did UBC (28/35), McGill (42/60), McMaster (54/89), UofA (59-77/101-151), and Université de Montréal (59-77/101-151). The last two are not specifically ranked, only placed in a category range.

http://www.arwu.org/rank2008/EN2008.htm

What is interesting is that the web site is copyright by the Center for World-Class Universities (a Chinese organization). And they describe the purpose as finding the gap between Chinese universities and world-class ones. The top Chinese university is the National Taiwan Univ. (17-22/152-200) followed by Chinese Univ. Hong Kong (23-41/201-302). The first mainland China university is Nanjing Univ. (23-41/201-302). Admittedly so, the ranking are for their sake of establishing standards for themselves and best practices and allow them to model, learn, or pull from the top universities. The rankings were not meant for any other purpose.

Sure is interesting to read.

Time flies - are we having fun yet?

I can not believe how quickly time flies - in all aspects of life, and specifically in the blogosphere. It has been so long since I last posted and although I have thought to myself on many occasions it is time to blog again - time did not wait.

My friend Dave has recently convinced me the two of us need a blog that we can contribute together on. He has already posted seven or so entries and he is still waiting for my first. Now that I have finally gotten Scribefire configured I am hoping that first entry will come soon. Check it out here: http://daveh-flatearththingswethoughtweknew.blogspot.com/