Russell group Unis described as 'elite' in the press?

[mids2019]

Does increasing reference of the Russell group in the media mean post 92 universities that aren't in should be worried about their status?

There are a number of unis such as Bath, St Andrews, Loughboroigh etc that aren't included and certainly back in my day 20 years ago would have been regarded as one of a number of universities that were below Oxbridge in terms of reputation.

The group is selective in terms of research funding I believe but certainly the term does seem to gaining traction in the public's mond.

Third oldest extant...

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Northampton_(13th_century)

Well, quite. St Andrews is only 19th on the Wiki list because Wiki excludes non-European / European model institutions.

UNESCO and Guinness Book of Records lists the Medina of Fez as the world’s oldest university / oldest existing and continually operating educational institution:

whc.unesco.org/en/list/170/

I think that there is going to be additional focus on oxbridge alternatives.

The idea of international reputation is interesting as we have significant numbers of international students.

On that note it's interesting that whilst Durham is ranked in the top 5 in UK it is only within top 100 internationally.........

Lots of international students really like London universities. Plus a few other big names in the main.

I think there is data on the qualifications obtained by entrants to universities. It will be interesting to see if the tables are modified to reflect the lower tariffs being offered, eg at Bristol and others. If these grades are used for the tables, and they are, generous discounts could push universities down table lists. Those who never discount, will remain at the top perhaps? Recruitment polices to aid diversity should be a adjusted for in the tables.

I always fail to undersand how international rankings are done. Clearly not on the same basis as here, so by what methods and data? Some international rankings never make much sense.

It does not follow that city students want to study in another city. They go home to London and feel they cannot replicate that, for example. So Warwick is of interest.

Interestingly Kent was where a school friend went - MFK degree, Diplomatic Service and now a Dame. Idoubt she would have gone to Kent if leaving school now.

The 30 Sutton Trust "elite" do not all feature in world league tables though. So how "elite" are they? A few - not very. Lowish tariffs for entry. There are some countries that dominate these league tables. I remember when DD was looking for an Italian university for her semesters abroad, Bologn a was the only Italian universaity in the top 200. Yet, much learning, as we know it at universities, started in Italy. So how is it that Bologna is ranked so much lower than Geneva or Edinburgh? Difficult to know really.