Frank gol
Rankings depend on the criteria being used for ranking.

Would you prefer this international ranking of universities based on innovative research:-

Macquarie University 201-300
La Trobe University 301 - 400

http://www.irua.edu.au/news_archive/2006/news_item-20061030.pdf

Handing out honorary doctorates to all and sundry hasn't lifted those rankings.

Go a step further. Get rid of honourary degrees altogether.

HRS: You claimed initially that: "Australia has only 1 university in the top 100 universities in the world. I would attribute this to the minimal standards in our universities." And I noted that you provided no evidence for that jaundiced opinion.

By contrast, I cited the Times Higher Education Supplement University Rankings for 2007 which included 8 Australian universities within their top 100. I also referred to a study of international students in Australian universities. The vast majority of these students were happy with standards.

In return, you cited other international evidence which variously denied your starting point that our universities have 'minimal standards' and certainly contradicted your 'only one in the top 100' claim.

Finally, you conclude that: "Handing out honorary doctorates to all and sundry hasn't lifted those rankings".

Is it more logical to conclude that handing out honorary doctorates and university standards have nothing to do with each other?

Universities should not indulge in extra academic activities.The politicians should keep away from academic institutions.Education is being hijacked by misguided and greedy politicians.Why should universities award honorary degrees? If the govrenment wants to honour (or please) somebody let them do it seperately and let them not misuse the educational institutions for the purpose. This happens probably because of the fact that vice-chancellors are political appointees. That means the the educated people are equally responsible for this rot.

The level of discussion here is just so abysmal.

I'm out of here - going somewhere more rational.

Well, I couldn't resist. After reading in another place (an old edition of Crikey) the following - which I have edited for brevity - I have to say I am changing my mind about the awarding of honorary degrees:

"Joh Bjelke-Petersen, forgetful Queensland Premier, was awarded an honorary doctorate in Political Science by University of Queensland Chancellor and accomplice Llew Edwards, despite not being able to recall the meaning of the 'separation of powers'.

They had given an honorary doctorate to the Premier of the time when the university celebrated its 25th and 50th anniversaries, so when the 75th came along, the Senate decided there was a tradition (i.e. it had happened twice already) and Joh must be similarly honoured.

"This was 1986 and it caused outrage amongst staff, students and the general community. There was a minor riot at the graduation ceremony, plate glass windows were broken, Joh failed to show up, and he was allegedly awarded the honour in a private ceremony in the Administration Building some time later. He never used the title.

"It provoked indigenous poet Oodgeroo Noonuccal to return her Honorary degree to the University. A student protest made a convincing argument that the honorary degree was far from well deserved by the scurrilously corrupt and morally bankrupt Friend of the Farmers."