When a conversation regarding the ranking of Universities in the United Kingdom arises, it is almost unarguable that the discussion will lead to the mention of Oxford and Cambridge; the two universities are referred to as Oxbridge. However, Imperial College London has risen to the occasion and became a force to reckon in the higher learning institutions. This piece aims at establishing the various parameters that are used to determine the ranking of the university and the position of the Imperial College in relation to the historical Oxbridge universities.
Age Factor and its Involvement in the Prestige of Universities
The first distinction which can be easily identified between Imperial College and Oxbridge is that the latten institutions are much older than the former one. Unlike Oxbridge that has been in existence for more than 700 years, Imperial College is less than a hundred years old. Some people hold the belief that an institution is as good as the year that it was founded – like the mature scotch whiskey. But this point of view fails to acknowledge the dramatic entry of the younger universities in the international rankings.
STEM Education: The above-mentioned corporate plan of Imperial College is known as Forte.
Imperial College is an educational institution that focuses on STEM programs which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Imperial is frequently compared to such distinguished American schools as MIT or Caltech, and it has already become a major player in these fields. The concentration of the university on science, particularly the STEM fields, has made it achieve much scientific advancement and has churned out several Nobel Prize laureates.
University Rankings: Looking At It Closer
The ranking system of universities is very important since it defines the perception of the public regarding the status of a particular university. Oxbridge has been on the pinnacle of the international ranking systems while Imperial College has gradually been rising in these ranking lists and is usually among the first ten universities in the world. However, it is imperative to point out that sometimes the ranking results may be different based on the parameters that are set; Imperial College is particularly outstanding in the ranking that is done based on STEM and research intensity.
The role of the organizational culture of the university on prestige
The culture of the university plays a massive role in determining the status of the institution. Oxbridge is known for several things including the collegiate system, tutorial style and the William time tested system of education. On the other hand, Imperial College has actively developed the organizational culture, which is based on innovation, research and market orientation. Although it may not possess the same prestige as Oxbridge, this approach is quite popular among the young people and companies to get a more progressive and diverse education.
University Admissions: Gate to Prestige
This is the reason why admission procedures can influence the perceived status of an institution. Oxbridge is well known for its highly competitive admission tests and interviews and these have over the years been associated with elitism and quality education. Imperial College has similar admission policy but has concentrated on the creation of selective criteria that would ensure that the College admits students who have potentials in STEM programs.
Graduate Employment: Measuring Success
Graduate employment percentages are proving to be one of the key indicators in the current world of job hunting for identifying the reputed university. Oxbridge and Imperial College are other universities with high employment rates, graduates of all the three universities are normally hired by employers. Still, it is worth noting that the type of employment can be different and Imperial College graduates can work in IT sphere.
Research Output: Leadership of Innovation and Prestige
Scholarly output is one of the key factors that define the status of a university. In this area, Imperial College has achieved a lot and in many cases ranks with Oxbridge in terms of research and innovation. Due to Imperial’s commitment to Applied Research and close links with companies and organizations the University has seen many discoveries in the medical, engineering, and environmental sciences fields.
Imperial College: The Way to a Higher Prestige
Hence, even though, Imperial College does not currently command the brand image of Oxbridge in the public domain, the brand image of Imperial College has been on the rise. In some courses especially those in science, technology, engineering, and Mathematics, Imperial is often ranked as good as or better than Oxbridge. These are a number of points that have attributed to the increasing prestige of Imperial: The University continues to perform well in the international rankings, it emphasizes STEM education and produces a great number of researches, a large percentage of its graduates find a job shortly after graduation, and it conducts a vast amount of researches.
Comparing Imperial College and Oxbridge: An Analytical Approach
When comparing Imperial College to Oxbridge one must understand that both universities have their specialties and advantages. Oxbridge may still lead in terms of tradition and heritage but Imperial College has very rightfully positioned itself as one of the premier institution in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
The following is the impact of university brand on employment. The findings are as follows:
The trend of a brand of a university proves the impact that can be brought by the brand on employment opportunities of a graduate. Oxbridge’s historical prestige to this day helps its graduates find a place in different spheres of their lives. But Imperial College has built a very good reputation especially in the fields of STEM where employers consider a degree from Imperial College as a great achievement in technology, engineering and science.
Conclusion: Diversity Mainstreaming in Higher Education Excellence
By comparing the current status of Imperial College and the Oxbridge, it is quite evident that elitism in higher learning institution is rather complex. As for Oxbridge, it will always remain an ideal in the eyes of the populace, but Imperial College shows that success is possible in a different way.
However, for the prospective students, the option between Imperial College and Oxbridge should be made based on one’s purpose of getting an education, interests, and the intended career paths rather than the prestige of the institutions. Each of the choices is known for providing excellent education and research prospects with certain focuses of each university.
In the future, thus, as the playing field of higher learning keeps shifting, it might be possible to note that Imperial College is not the only institution that has an upper-hand over some universities in the Oxbridge dominion but that the former has unique selling points that are different from those of the latter. In this new paradigm, the worth of the university will be judged by their ability to prepare students for the future of the world regardless of how old the university is or how prestigious it maybe.
– The Author is Mr. Ajay Thiara, Founder and Managing Director of 360 College Review
Image Credit – Freepik