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QS renews agreement to use Scopus data for its World University Ranking

on Thu, 06/18/2015 - 08:57

We have some great news to share on the Scopus front! QS, a global leader in university rankings, and Elsevier today announced their decision to renew their long-term collaboration. As part of the agreement, QS will continue to use Scopus data for its flagship World University Ranking, QS Top 50 Under 50, QS University Rankings for Asia, BRICs and Latin America.

This is truly an endorsement of the work team Scopus has done over the last 11 years – improving the quality of the Scopus database with a focus on increasing the breadth and depth of globally relevant coverage. Want to learn more about more about how Scopus is is improving? Check out these posts on how we are expanding historical and books coverage and read more about updates to our user interface.

“QS was the first of the global rankings compilers to identify Scopus as an excellent source of data to assess research activity and excellence of universities globally," explains Ben Sowter, Head of the QS Intelligence Unit. "Since 2007, Elsevier have been an accommodating and cooperative partner; this renewal of our collaboration represents a deepening of our working relationship and we are looking forward to exploring some of the new opportunities that it brings.”

Elsevier’s position on rankings is similar to our position on the use of research metrics: a single metric provides a simple, clear point of reference that can be used as a benchmark and it is the combination of multiple metrics (combined with qualitative data and references) that can prove useful in making informed decisions. While university rankings alone do not solve the complex problem of where and what a prospective student should study (or where academics should work), rankings do play a useful role by offering comparative data that would otherwise not be available.

Want to see how your institution fares in Scopus? Use the ‘Affiliation Search’ in Scopus to see your institution’s research output. And, let us know if you’d like to learn more about Scopus or SciVal, the institutional benchmarking tool based on Scopus data.

Have questions for us about Scopus, SciVal or our partnership with QS? Please reach out to us via email.