Traditionally, competition between universities around the world has been based on history and achievements measured by conventional metrics. When Oxford and Cambridge and Harvard and Stanford dominate the top places again in the Times Higher Education (THE) World Rankings, it illustrates the advantages that come from long histories of research, the value of their physical assets and global reputations, and the financial resources that come from endowments, ongoing donations and high value partnerships.
They are all great examples of the achievements of globally outstanding institutions, and they are role models for a growing number of institutions around the world that seek to emulate them.
