Reframing University Rankings: Visibility, Open Science & Global South Leadership

University rankings play a powerful role in shaping global perceptions of institutional quality, influencing research funding decisions, and guiding academic strategies. Yet, traditional ranking systems often rely on closed datasets and narrow indicators, which underrepresent universities in the Global South despite their significant research contributions.

To address these challenges, TCC Africa, in partnership with IES Research, hosted a webinar on 29th January 2026 titled “Reframing University Rankings: Visibility, Open Science & Global South Leadership.” The session explored how practices aligned with open science—such as transparency, persistent identifiers (PIDs), and open research infrastructures—can enhance institutional visibility and strengthen performance in rankings.

The webinar brought together an amazing team of experts from diverse regions, including Latin America, Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Global South, highlighting perspectives across continents. Over 500 participants registered, with strong representation from the Global South, underscoring the webinar’s objective of fostering inclusive dialogue and sharing solutions relevant to regions often underrepresented in global metrics.

Highlights from the sessions included:

• Reimagining University Rankings through Open Science

Dr. Nees Jan van Eck (CWTS, Leiden University) explored how openness and transparency can shift the narrative from numerical rankings to meaningful research impact.

Dr. Han-Wen Chang (IES Research) discussed strategies for enhancing university visibility and influence beyond league tables.

Mr. Zhang Tieming (China University Journals) shared insights from China on integrating open science principles into evaluation systems.

• Persistent Identifiers as a Tool for Recognition and Rankings

Lijuan Wang (CNIC, Chinese Academy of Sciences) demonstrated the practical applications of the CSTR platform in research activities.

Nabil Ksibi (Africa PID Alliance) presented DOCiD, a PID infrastructure strengthening recognition and research visibility in Africa.

• Research Assessment Reform and the Global South Perspective

Dr. André Brasil (UNESCO) addressed how the Global South is reshaping research assessment aligned with open science.

Dr. Judith Neidorf (CLACSO, Argentina) reflected on Latin American experiences, the challenges of rankings, and the Bogota Manifesto’s framework for socially relevant and context-sensitive evaluation.

Dr. Giovanna Lima (DORA) discussed responsible research assessment, advocating for holistic and inclusive evaluation practices that go beyond traditional metrics.

The webinar emphasized that improving visibility, adopting open science practices, and using innovative tools such as PIDs are not only crucial for enhancing rankings but also for fostering equitable, socially responsible, and globally inclusive research systems. The active participation from the Global South highlighted the urgency and relevance of these discussions for universities seeking to balance international recognition with local impact.

Through knowledge sharing, case studies, and practical examples, the session underscored a key message: moving beyond traditional rankings requires collaboration, context-aware evaluation, and commitment to open science principles—especially for underrepresented regions.

Webinar concept note:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qC5yMMqdndkm4rkUpJwY2WzXsOWagHZXOgXf2LKw5CI/edit?usp=sharing

Webinar recording:https://doi.org/10.21428/359fb1d2.54d6379f

 About the organizers

IES Research

 iesResearch is the research engagement arm of iGroup, supporting academic institutions across the Asia-Pacific and other emerging regions. Based in Singapore, iesResearch focuses on enhancing research excellence through AI-driven authoring tools, strategic communication services, and partnerships that strengthen scholarly visibility. The organization works closely with researchers, universities, and research support offices to improve the discoverability and impact of academic work.

iGroup (Asia Pacific) Limited is a Hong Kong–registered multinational organization with a presence in over 20 countries across the Asia-Pacific region and a workforce of more than 1,200.

For more information, visit: https://iesresearch.solutions/

iGroup Asia Pacific: https://www.igroupnet.com/

The Training Centre in Communication (TCC Africa)

The Training Centre in Communication (TCC Africa), is the first African-based training center to teach effective communication skills to scientists. TCC Africa is an award winning  Trust, established as a non-profit entity in 2006 and is registered in Kenya.  TCC Africa provides  capacity support in improving researchers  output and visibility through training in  scholarly and science communication.

Mission

TCC Africa’s mission is to contribute to the increase in profile, locally, and internationally, of African science, and its impact on the life of Africans, by improving skills in technical communication in all forms, at academia and other relevant forums, in Africa.

Objective

To Train. Support. Empower. researchers   through capacity   in improving their research output and visibility.

Webpage:https://www.tcc-africa.org/