Brics's Countries in the Webometrics Ranking of World Universities

The purpose of the study is the characteristics of higher education systems of  BRICS based on the results of the Ranking Web of universities. The proposed indicators of mass higher education: 1) number of national universities in the ranking starting with the top 2000 - N₂₀₀₀, N₃₀₀₀, N₄₀₀₀, N₅₀₀₀, N₁₀₀₀₀, N_20000; 2) the percentage of N₅₀₀₀ in the total number of ranked universities - N₂₀₀₀₀ (a conditional parameter of quality of mass universities).

   BRICS account over 30 % of ranked universities. There are only 5 countries in the world with more than 1,000 universities: the USA and four   BRICS countries (China, India, Brazil, Russia).

   By set of six indicators (N₂₀₀₀, N₃₀₀₀, N₄₀₀₀, N₅₀₀₀, N₁₀₀₀₀, N₂₀₀₀₀) China takes first place – it’s among the top ten countries for each of the indicators under review. Brazil in 2014 and 2015 is in the top by five indicators. India in July 2015 for the first time entered the top ten by five indicators. Russia, on the contrary, in July 2015 drastically worsened its position, entering the top ten only by three indicators.

     By conditional indicator of quality (percentage of  N₅₀₀₀ to N₂₀₀₀₀) China stands out  among  all countries with large-scale systems of higher education, including the USA, (first place in 2014 and in January 2015; second in July 2015). Brazil, India and Russia in particular have low indices  indicating an insufficient quality of mass universities.

     The study of network activity of Russian universities, which for eight years was characterized by positive dynamics, for the first time showed a sharp decline in July 2015: Russian universities for the first time are in the top ten starting with the top 5000 only. It’s appropriate to consider the reasons for the deterioration of Russian position only after analyzing two or three consecutive rankings.