During the 18-month implementation period of the V4 University Visibility Project, numerous research findings were produced that capture the issue of higher education excellence from the perspectives of higher education providers, stakeholders, and the literature.

Rank calculator

One of the most significant results of the project was the development of a rank evaluation and prediction model. On the basis of this, we developed a rank calculator using the scientific and ranking data of universities in the V4 region collected in the course of the project.

The calculator is accessible at the following link: https://hecon.uni-obuda.hu/en/rank-calculator/. An article detailing the development of the calculator is available as a preprint at:

Read the Research Paper

The research paper is scheduled for publication in the Scientometrics journal in the near future.

Provider Survey

The Provider Survey Work Package, through a survey with the participation of 84 universities across the V4 region, uncovered valuable insights into key aspects of university commitment in rankings and excellence. Collaboratively designed and conducted, the survey assessed crucial factors including regulation, institutionalization, and financing of excellence initiatives. The Provider Survey workgroup, through collaborative efforts, developed the Engagement Index. This index measures universities’ commitment to excellence-related factors, taking into account both formative aspects and practical implementation.

The lack of formative elements for excellence (pl.: making strategic documents) despite an advanced implementation of excellence related practices highlights a significant opportunity for policy intervention. The study based on these results is soon to be published.

Stakeholder Survey

The Stakeholder Survey encompassing nearly 2000 young adults who graduated in the region, offered compelling insights into their perceptions of excellence in higher education. Our results show that students’ expectations generally did not match their needs, as on average the importance of indicators were higher as the satisfaction.

Contrary to expectations, the survey revealed negligible differences between ranked and unranked universities concerning surveyed indicators. The 2022 FIKUSZ International Conference proceeding shows the findings concerning the correlation between entrepreneurial competences and university excellence. Additionally, the SISY 2023 IEEE conference paper, along with an upcoming article, delves into the relationship between digital skills and students’ satisfaction with their lives and careers. Furthermore, there are forthcoming articles focused on students’ perspectives regarding university excellence, derived from a comprehensive database comprising responses from nearly 2000 young graduates.

Literature review

The Literature Review, a cornerstone of this study, culminated in a submission-ready paper synthesizing existing knowledge on university excellence. While the review primarily focused on English publications, it also noted the absence of a comprehensive review solely dedicated to the V4 region—a critical gap this project aimed to fill.

Findings of the V4 University Visibility Project not only pinpoint areas for policy intervention but also offer concrete evidence for evidence-based decision-making in academic excellence. The project’s success underscores the potential for future collaborations and a continued focus on fostering academic excellence within the Visegrad region.