Why is there a lack of international reputation for Durham?
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Why is there a lack of international reputation for Durham?I'm just wondering. Durham is known to be one of the most prestigious universities in the UK, appearing in the top 10 pretty much since league tables began. Yet on international league tables it doesn't place as highly. I know league tables are only a general guide, but the QS world rankings, for example, place it 151st-200th in the world, despite it's huge reputation in the UK. Why is this?
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Re: Why is there a lack of international reputation for Durham?Please do a search, this has been discussed to death.(Original post by vedderfan94)
I'm just wondering. Durham is known to be one of the most prestigious universities in the UK, appearing in the top 10 pretty much since league tables began. Yet on international league tables it doesn't place as highly. I know league tables are only a general guide, but the QS world rankings, for example, place it 151st-200th in the world, despite it's huge reputation in the UK. Why is this?
In short, its ranking is still reasonably good for a university of its size, it just may drop or fall significant from year on year. Since 2005 it's been anything from 70-something to 132 in the THES rankings.
It is largely due to size. The world rankings favour larger research intensive universities, with its peer and academic review. Durham, although it produces excellent research, is not a huge institution and doesn't produce the amount of research that Manchester does, for example, and therefore lacks the reputation (with exceptions, physics/astrophysics/cosmology for example where it does have a global repuation). Durham, being a medium size multi-faculty without a real medical or dental school, will inevitable rank lower than a UCL, Manchester, Princeton, Berkeley, ANU, Amsterdam...
But league table rankings mean effectively sod all anyway. Durham graduates still tend to compete successfully with graduates from universities higher in international rankings (UCL, KCL, Manchester) and does still rank well in the emplower review of the THES. -
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Re: Why is there a lack of international reputation for Durham?Apparently as said in Durham's prospectus, they're 15th in the world for graduate employment
That's something and in 2013 the complete university guide for UK, it's on #5, yeah does really well nationally
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Re: Why is there a lack of international reputation for Durham?Also, on a less-academic more-popular level, it's much less-known because Durham as a city as not well-known. Everyone knows of Manchester and London, and for many young people considering studying in the UK I've met, there's been somewhat of an assumption that, these being the biggest and most well-known cities, they would have some of the strongest universities (aside from Oxbridge). People are infinitely more likely to know Manchester United than Durham Cathedral and so saying you went to Durham often means little as they've never heard of the place, let alone the uni.
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Re: Why is there a lack of international reputation for Durham?Durham is expanding its global footprint. Check out the latest international academic recruitment drive to hire 50 additional professors:
http://www.joindurham.com/professorships -
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Re: Why is there a lack of international reputation for Durham?Yes. This probably has an effect at undergraduate level. Though some will use league tables, if they are aware of them, and find Durham's highly rated, the pull of a larger city may still be a deciding factor.(Original post by tc92)
Also, on a less-academic more-popular level, it's much less-known because Durham as a city as not well-known. Everyone knows of Manchester and London, and for many young people considering studying in the UK I've met, there's been somewhat of an assumption that, these being the biggest and most well-known cities, they would have some of the strongest universities (aside from Oxbridge). People are infinitely more likely to know Manchester United than Durham Cathedral and so saying you went to Durham often means little as they've never heard of the place, let alone the uni.
I think it's less of an issue for postgrads, who do seem to recognise Durham and will be more inclined to pick according to academics and research strength in their field. Take students in Astrophysics, for example, who recognise Durham as one of the best in the world and I think give it more of an international "flavour " than some of its Arts and Social Science departments, particularly small departments like philosophy.
The international make up of both staff and students is used in one international league tables. I think it's the THES though might be the QS (maybe both). For staff I think Durham does very well, for students only reasonably so. -
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Re: Why is there a lack of international reputation for Durham?Reading is also investing in 50 new posts(Original post by schroeder's dog)
Durham is expanding its global footprint. Check out the latest international academic recruitment drive to hire 50 additional professors:
http://www.joindurham.com/professorships
http://www.readingisinvesting.com/
but when all 100 academics have their new jobs, Durham will still have the finest 11th century building north of the Alps and Reading ...er...won't. -
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Re: Why is there a lack of international reputation for Durham?Haha,point made.(Original post by tc92)
Also, on a less-academic more-popular level, it's much less-known because Durham as a city as not well-known. Everyone knows of Manchester and London, and for many young people considering studying in the UK I've met, there's been somewhat of an assumption that, these being the biggest and most well-known cities, they would have some of the strongest universities (aside from Oxbridge). People are infinitely more likely to know Manchester United than Durham Cathedral and so saying you went to Durham often means little as they've never heard of the place, let alone the uni.
I hardly see anyone who has ever heard of Durham(I'm not from the UK),but for MU,loads of people know it.
I dunno whether if a football team of Durham exists,but I sincerely wish it could get into Premier League and make a hit,I believe it could benefit Durham international reputation a great deal! -
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Re: Why is there a lack of international reputation for Durham?Well I am from the US and I originally applied to Durham for post grad because of word of mouth from several of my professors (for anthropology). But, I will admit that before I got so many good references for the university I had never heard of it. I think it has to do with the fact that Durham isn’t a big metropolitan city so most people don’t even know that it is out there. I agree that sports could help get the name out more and a better internet presence would get it more noticed too.
For my subject though it is very respected, even compared to more internationally recognized universities. -
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Re: Why is there a lack of international reputation for Durham?Durham don't have a professional club, no. Durham City AFC are in the Northern Premier League Division One North, which is seven leagues below the Premier League I think. So, yeah, unless something truly remarkable happens I don't think there's any chance they'll go professional and get near the Premier League. I think the best we can hope for is that they'll somehow make it to the third round of the FA Cup, get Manchester United, and complete a giant killing.(Original post by Adam_x)
Haha,point made.
I hardly see anyone who has ever heard of Durham(I'm not from the UK),but for MU,loads of people know it.
I dunno whether if a football team of Durham exists,but I sincerely wish it could get into Premier League and make a hit,I believe it could benefit Durham international reputation a great deal!
Durham (as a County) is more famous for cricket and is the newest first class side (making its debut in 1992). They're based at Chester le Street, a few miles outside the city, won the Championship in 2008 and 2009. But cricket, outside the Commonwealth, doesn't have the same appeal and fame as football of course. Even in the Commonwealth it's not comparable to the image the Premier League has worldwide.
Durham School have one of the oldest football clubs in the world though! Not this fact is well known....
Durham Wasps were one of the biggest names in English Ice hockey until they moved in the mid 1990s, not that ice hockey has a large following.
What do you mean by Internet presence? It's a capital city of the wider county, so has quite an Internet presence. I don't know it can really have its Internet profile increased. I just don't think people in most parts of the world are interested in Durham County Council, Durham County cricket club and Durham Tees valley airport.(Original post by Hopefully2013)
Well I am from the US and I originally applied to Durham for post grad because of word of mouth from several of my professors (for anthropology). But, I will admit that before I got so many good references for the university I had never heard of it. I think it has to do with the fact that Durham isn’t a big metropolitan city so most people don’t even know that it is out there. I agree that sports could help get the name out more and a better internet presence would get it more noticed too.
For my subject though it is very respected, even compared to more internationally recognized universities.
Getting the Lindisfarne Gospels would perhaps help, by at least increasing visitors, but the British Library in London won't let them go.Last edited by River85; 01-05-2012 at 20:16. -
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Re: Why is there a lack of international reputation for Durham?We don't have a football team in Durham well not like a premier league or anything team.(Original post by Adam_x)
Haha,point made.
I hardly see anyone who has ever heard of Durham(I'm not from the UK),but for MU,loads of people know it.
I dunno whether if a football team of Durham exists,but I sincerely wish it could get into Premier League and make a hit,I believe it could benefit Durham international reputation a great deal!
To be honest Durham is a TINY city centre and is incredibly expensive, the bus service is pretty awful especially if you live out in the rural areas like me. However there is the lovely Castle and Cathedral. -
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Re: Why is there a lack of international reputation for Durham?By Internet presence I am leaning more toward marketing, outreach and representation. I think more people would be interested than you’d think. For example, I know there are ways to make an organizations name pop up in searches earlier when people look up certain phrases in sites like Google and Bing (I just did something like this at my current job). They are pretty solid about blogging but even the universities site itself could be worked on and made more articulate (and even fancy/nicelooking) to people who are coming in blind about with kind of a school Durham it.(Original post by River85)
What do you mean by Internet presence? It's a capital city of the wider county, so has quite an Internet presence. I don't know it can really have its Internet profile increased. I just don't think people in most parts of the world are interested in Durham County Council, Durham County cricket club and Durham Tees valley airport.
Getting the Lindisfarne Gospels would perhaps help, by at least increasing visitors, but the British Library in London won't let them go.
I think there is always room for an improved internet presence but again that is a big part of my current job. It’s just a more cost and time effective thing to do rather than many other options to promote growth. But, I don’t really know the mechanics and history as to what the school has already done.
That's something 
