T.M. Kayode

In today’s blog post, we will discuss the Times Higher Education (THE) Sub-Saharan African Rankings. This will be the last entry in our guide series for now. However, THE has other ranking products like the THE Reputation Rankings, THE Young University Rankings, and more.

History of the THE Sub-Saharan African Rankings

The first results of the THE Sub-Saharan African Rankings were released in 2023. The methodology was developed through consultations with university leaders across Africa, led by Ashesi University in Ghana, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. In this initial edition, 88 universities from 20 countries were ranked. An additional 33 universities were listed in the reporter category due to not meeting the eligibility criteria.

In terms of results, South Africa had the most institutions in the top 10 (four), while Nigeria was the most-represented nation overall, with 37 ranked institutions, led by Covenant University in seventh place. Universities in Uganda, Rwanda, and Ghana also made the top 10.

Criteria for Getting Ranked

The only requirement to participate in the SSA ranking is to teach undergraduate students.

How the Ranking is Evaluated

The Sub-Saharan methodology is based on five pillars: Resources and Finances, Access and Fairness, Teaching Skills, Student Engagement, and Africa Impact. Unlike the World University Rankings, research is not a key metric here. The pillar that measures research is Africa Impact. Data is gathered from Elsevier to measure African research citations and co-authorship, as well as policy and lawmakers’ outreach and education. Additionally, data collection relied on student surveys for the Student Engagement pillar.

Questions About the Methodology

While I have several questions about the methodology, it’s important to acknowledge that those who developed it did their best. I believe the methodology is being revised, so we might see updates before the next submission round.

Here are some of my questions:

• Resources and Finances Pillar: Does the evidence showing the source of funding truly matter? How many pieces of evidence must one submit for it to be considered credible? I think this is a non-issue. Also, how are facilities measured? How many pieces of evidence are needed to get full points? Do you need to show one facility or 100? Do you want to see buildings or labs?
• Access and Fairness Pillar: What is the difference between Disability Support Services and Accessible Facilities? Most Disability Support Services include facilities that promote accessibility on campus, like ramps and elevators. Perhaps these two metrics can be merged. This pillar aims to measure how universities in Africa ensure that all disenfranchised groups have access to education. Instead of having two metrics for the disabled population, how about merging them and adding another metric to show evidence that universities encourage older adults to receive an education?

Table 1: THE Sub-Saharan African 2023 Ranking Parameters

Pillar	Metric Name	Weight	Data Source
Resources and Finances	Faculty-to-student ratio	3	Numerical – From Universities
	Finance per student	3	Numerical – From Universities
	Funding sources	3	Evidence – From Universities
	Continuous Professional Development	4	Evidence – From Universities
	Mental Health Counselling	4	Evidence – From Universities
	Facilities	3	Evidence – From Universities
Access and Fairness	Low-income students receiving financial aid	4	Numerical – From Universities
	Proportion of first-generation students	3	Numerical – From Universities
	Proportion of female graduates	4	Numerical – From Universities
	Affordability	3	Evidence – From Universities
	Disability support services	3	Evidence – From Universities
	Accessible Facilities	3	Evidence – From Universities
Teaching Skills	Experiential learning	4	Evidence – From Universities
	Practical courses	4	Evidence – From Universities
	Career Guidance	4	Evidence – From Universities
	Employability	4	Evidence – From Universities
	Course quality	4	Evidence – From Universities
Student Engagement	University elected representation	5	Survey – From Students
	Students’ union	5	Survey – From Students
	Teaching Engagement	5	Survey – From Students
	Interaction with peers and faculty	5	Survey – From Students
Africa Impact	African research citations	7	Bibliometrics – From Elsevier
	African research co-authorship	7	Bibliometrics – From Elsevier
	Policy- and lawmaker’s outreach and education	6	Bibliometrics – From Elsevier

Table source: THE Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings 2023 Methodology.

Conclusion

The THE Sub-Saharan African Rankings offer valuable insights into the performance of universities across the region. While the methodology has its challenges, it’s crucial to recognize the efforts and intentions behind it. Improvements are likely underway, and we can look forward to more refined rankings in the future. This initiative helps highlight the strengths and areas for growth in African higher education, paving the way for a brighter future.