从排行榜看大学的中心与边缘

Center and Edge in the University World from Perspective of University Rankings

阿特巴赫在其论著中谈及大学的中心与边缘概念,而在当前社会,各种名目的大学排行榜甚嚣尘上。中心与边缘不过是一个价值的判断而非一个事实的判断。由边缘移向中心的前提是对这个中心的认可,其中包含了一个价值的量度,事实上当边缘与中心的区分成为一个价值判断而非事实判断的时候,由边缘移向中心也变得没有意义。处于中心地位的大学未必就是一所真正的好的大学。所谓的处于中心地位的大学并不是我们发展的目标,对于什么是好的大学,我们应有自己的标准和判断,并为之付出努力。

Philip G.Altbach talks about the concepts of center and edge in the university world.Additionally,in the current society,the whole world is filled with a variety of university rankings.In this paper,based on the comparison both horizontally and vertically,it is found out that the concepts of center and edge in the university world are just a kind of value judgment rather than a determination of fact.Moving from the edge to the center can not be accomplished without the acceptance of the center.Otherwise,the movement from the edge to the center makes no sense in that the concept of center and edge is just a kind of value judgment.The universities in the center are not necessarily excellent universities.We should have our own standards and judgemants for a good university,and make all our efforts to achieve this goal.