How Nuffic Neso offices use ranking results

Twelve Dutch research universities improved their position in the THE ranking and made it to the top 200 of the world’s best performing universities. Obviously, these institutions use this in their international marketing and recruitment. Nuffic Neso offices in countries like Indonesia, Vietnam, China and India also do so in order to promote Study in Holland.

Sharing the results

The Nuffic Neso offices share the ranking results with (prospective) students, their parents, Holland alumni and institutional partners. For instance, in Indonesia, the Holland alumni are made aware of the fact that they graduated from a world class university.

The results are also used when the Nuffic Neso offices meet with (prospective) students and their parents, for example during fairs or during counseling sessions. The aim is not to steer students towards a specific university, but rather to provide full information about studying in the Netherlands. This allows them to make their own choices in what fits them best.

Student priorities in perspective

 “We tell the students not to rely entirely on rankings,” a colleague of Nuffic Neso Desks in India explains, “but also take a number of other factors into consideration, with an attempt to promote the Universities of Applied Sciences too. The students are given the right picture, which makes them think, and place their priorities in perspective, while making a choice.”

Rankings in local media

Local media in various Neso target countries picked up the ranking news. In Indonesia, media reported more on the results of the QS ranking, while in Vietnam, most popular newspapers and magazines wrote about the THE ranking.

In China, rankings are seen as a strong indication of the research and education quality of a country. Consequently, the good results on the Dutch research universities in all the rankings contribute strongly to the worldwide reputation of the Dutch higher education system.

More information

More information about the usage of rankings as well as about local rankings in and of the Neso countries is available in the ‘Rankings in the Neso countries’ report. This report can be downloaded from the Nuffic Market Information Website (login required).