University ranking agency in bribes row

• Source: The Global Times
• [20:34 May 07 2009]
• Comments

A Shenzhen-based ranking agency has been accused of favouring a university in Sichuan in return for money, reigniting debate over the credibility of such rankings on the mainland.

Citing unidentified sources, a Chinese state media reported yesterday that Wu Shulian, lead author of the China University Evaluation Project, was invited to give lectures at Chengdu University of Technology in 2004 and 2006, and later received tens of thousands of yuan in payment.

The university’s ranking was raised from No116 in the 2004 report to No92 in 2007, before falling to No103 this year.

The allegation has underscored some of the shady practices of mainland ranking agencies, which allegedly use their reports to hold universities to ransom.

Opponents, particularly universities, have argued against college ranking agencies, saying they do not consult university authorities in their research and use problematic evaluation systems. However, universities are still affected by the annual rankings, which hold enormous sway over potential students and their parents. As analysts have observed, that influence allows the ranking agencies to be open to bribes.

Gong Ke, president of Tianjin University, told the media in March that they had turned down a ranking research institute’s request for sponsorship, shedding a rare light on the relationship between universities and agencies. Mr Wu admitted he had accepted payment in return for providing consulting services to the Chengdu university.

He also criticised the report for using the deals with the university to discredit his agency and rankings in general.

But Beijing Institute of Technology professor Yang Dongping said the public had good reason to question the conduct of people like Mr Wu, as it could easily lead to the impression that they were making money illicitly.

Professor Yang said he supported university rankings, but the sector was becoming so unregulated that the collective reputation of ranking agencies was at stake.

(South China Morning Post May 06, 2009)

Notes:
1. Bribe
动词：1 向……行贿；出钱唆使；收买；买通 2 用贿赂得到
名词：1贿赂；用来买通别人的钱财；诱饵
2. Reignit
动词：1 重新点燃，使重新燃烧 2 重新激起，重新引起 3 使再度兴奋，使重新激动
3. Shady
形容词：1 成荫的；遮阳的，背阴的 2 阴暗的；隐蔽的 3 为人不齿的，名声不好的
4. Shed light on something
使某事清楚地显示出来。Shed 有“流出；落下；倾注等多种含义
5. At stake
在危急之中，危如累卵

For Chinese translation see P6 in Global Times Chinese Editon of May 8.