International Rankings and Their Influence on Quality Assurance in Pakistan’s Higher Education System

Abstract

This study investigates how international university rankings (e.g., QS, Times Higher Education, Shanghai/ARWU) influence the functioning, priorities, and outcomes of Quality Enhancement Cells (QECs) in Pakistani higher-education institutions. Using a mixed-methods design — surveys of QEC staff and senior administrators, semi-structured interviews, document analysis of QEC action plans and HEC reports, and secondary data on institutional performance — the paper assesses whether rankings drive quality-improvement activities, reorient institutional priorities (e.g., research vs. teaching), and affect resource allocation and stakeholder perceptions. Findings suggest that rankings act as both a catalyst for certain quality practices (research capacity building, internationalization efforts) and a source of tension (narrow KPI focus, resource misalignment). Recommendations are made to align ranking-influenced initiatives with national quality goals and to develop context-sensitive metrics for Pakistani QECs.