World University Rankings 2015

Thames River, Oxford

Business Insider March 11

Cited

'Harvard University has the best reputation in the world, according to a new ranking from Times Higher Education (THE).

The US dominated the list, with 43 universities in the top 100, including eight in the top 10.

THE reports that 10,507 scholars participated in the 2015 invitation-only Academic Reputation Survey. According to THE, world reputation rankings "are based on the number of times an institution is cited by respondents as being the best in their field."'

Cited

The rated top ten

'Harvard University

University of Cambridge (United Kingdom)

University of Oxford (United Kingdom)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Stanford University

University of California at Berkeley

Princeton University

Yale University

California Institute of Technology

Columbia University'

End Citations

The overall reputation of an educational institutional is important, but in my view for the individual student his/her academic needs and requirements takes priority over the reputation of a University.

At the course work academic level, which institution best suits the academic requirements for the student and in my case, formerly working on British research theses only degrees, which program and advisor (s) would work best within an academic program.

I considered attending Cambridge, but their representative required me to complete a Graduate Records Exam, which would have taken months of study, and was outside of my academic subject areas, before beginning Doctoral research.

In contrast, the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, at Lampeter, although a much smaller University, required MPhil and PhD theses, which was much more beneficial to me in the academic process.

It therefore, in my opinion, was more reasonable to work with Wales, which I signed with eventually after a brief time at Manchester,

Wales also at the time was highly ranked in specific areas of learning relevant to my academic career such as in the Complete University Guide published in association with The Independent newspaper; the Department of Theology & Religious Studies at the University of Wales Lampeter was ranked 13th in the UK.

In December 2008, the Research Institute for Theology & Religious Studies was rated 9th in the UK for its research strength by Research Fortnight magazine in its RAE 2008 Analysis Power Rankings.' 'Then in February (2009),

The Guardian newspaper placed the Department in first position in the UK for the number of postgraduate distance learning students.

While looking for academic employment I have asked for feedback from academic institutions and what I have been told is that teaching subjects are a priority and having those fit within an institution, therefore, in my case those would be the problem of evil, theodicy, free will, determinism, the nature of God.

Being as I earned my Doctorate within the United Kingdom academic system, which would be the same system as 'Oxbridge' my subjects of expertise would be significantly more important than where I earned my Doctorate.

This employment philosophy is likely similar for others within academy in the Western world.