Become a Global Leader in University Rankings
Lead the Future of Higher Education Rankings
A 4-day certification program designed for university leaders, researchers, and policymakers to master global ranking systems, enhance institutional performance, and drive strategic impact.
31 Oct to 03 Nov 2026
About UR-LEAD
UR-LEAD: University Rankings Leadership Certification Program
UR-Lead® is an intensive blended 4-day certification program featuring 2 days face-to-face and 2 days online, designed to empower higher education leaders to understand, navigate, and shape global and regional university rankings. Developed by experts and delivered by UNIRANKS, the program combines deep technical knowledge with practical strategy-building, future foresight, and collaborative peer engagement.
Purpose & Vision
UR-LEAD exists to bridge the gap between ranking data and institutional leadership. Its purpose is to:
- Equip leaders with cutting-edge ranking expertise
- Foster a global community focused on transparency, benchmarking, and improvement
- Develop forward-thinking strategies that elevate universities in a competitive global landscape
Our Vision: To create a new generation of leaders who drive excellence in education through mastery of university rankings and performance metrics.
Prof. Hesham Metwalli
President of the University Rankings International Leadership Council
Advisory Board and Program Leadership
Robert Love
Robert Love is Chairman of UNIRANKS, leading global initiatives in transparent university rankings, student employability, and data-driven quality. He co-steers UR-LEAD, equipping higher-education leaders with benchmarking, strategy, and foresight. A longtime advocate for open, ethical metrics, Love convenes international forums to align universities, industry, and policymakers on impact and innovation.
Chairman & President of UNIRANKS
Robert Love is the Chairman of UNIRANKS, stewarding the world’s largest open university-rankings ecosystem and its mission to link transparency with real student outcomes. He co-leads UR-LEAD, the University Rankings Leadership Program, equipping senior leaders with methodology mastery, benchmarking, strategy execution, and foresight. Under his chairmanship, UNIRANKS advances inclusive metrics, ethical data practices, and AI-enabled analytics that strengthen employability and institutional quality. Robert convenes cross-sector dialogue through WHERS conferences and the International Leadership Forum, and champions innovation platforms such as HERO (Higher Education Regulatory OpenLab) and HELIX for regulator and institutional capability-building. A persuasive advocate for evidence-based decision-making, he partners with ministers, university presidents, quality bodies, and industry to translate insight into measurable impact. At UR-LEAD, Robert frames rankings as a leadership discipline—aligning governance, data, and change management—so participants leave with practical roadmaps to elevate performance, reputation, and student success.
Professor Hesham Metwalli
Professor Hesham Metwalli, President of UNIRANKS’ University Rankings International Leadership Council, is a leader in higher-education innovation and prosperity studies. He pioneered UR-LEAD, HELIX, and HERO certification, founded prosperity centres, and funds scholarships. A QAA-certified reviewer and PwC auditor, he advises governments and institutions on governance, rankings, and sustainable development.
President OF UR-ILC
UNIRANKS
Professor Hesham Metwalli is a globally recognised leader in higher education innovation and prosperity studies. As the President of the University Rankings International Leadership Council with UNIRANKS, he has pioneered transformative initiatives including the world’s first university rankings leadership program (UR-LEAD), the HELIX global Higher Education Leadership and Innovation Exchange, and the HERO certification for Higher Education Regulatory Sandboxes. He also founded Africa’s and the world’s first Higher Education Centre of Excellence for Prosperity Studies and Research.
As a global leader for higher education, his scholarship programs include the doctoral scholarship in Prosperity Research with the University of Newcastle, Australia, and the first scholarship for higher education leadership development in Least Developed Countries, in partnership with the International Association of Universities (IAU). Additionally, he established five scholarships for leadership in university rankings.
Professor Metwalli has numerous prestigious affiliations including membership on the Dean’s Leadership Council at Harvard University HMS, Middle East advisor and ambassador with the Academic Council for the United Nations, and Global Ambassador for the Clinton Foundation. He is also a Certified Lead Auditor with PwC, Certified University Reviewer with the UK Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), Efficacy Reviewer with Pearson Education, and Leadership Facilitator certified by the UK National College for Leadership. He also completed the Doctoral Supervision Program with the University of Oxford. With this extensive background, Professor Metwalli provides strategic advice to governments, NGOs, and international institutions, advancing governance, education, prosperity, and sustainable development worldwide.
Additional topics: United Nations and SDGS – Higher Education Leadership – University Rankings – Regulatory Sandboxes – Education Innovation – Prosperity Centres of Excellence – Prosperity Facility – Business Management, Entrepreneurship and Accelerators – Enterprising Companies for Higher Education – Quality Assurance and Excellence Models for Education -Note: (Professor Metwalli’s speaking engagements are not for personal profit; rather, all proceeds directly support his ongoing and future scholarships, prosperity research, and community development centres worldwide including the Prosperity Facility in Tanzania)
H.E. Ghanim Al Falasi
H.E. Ghanim Al Falasi is UNIRANKS Global Ambassador and Senior Vice President for Technology & Entrepreneurship at Dubai Silicon Oasis/DIEZ. A smart-city pioneer and former Dubai Airports ICT leader, he connects government, industry, and universities to UR-LEAD—advancing entrepreneurial mindsets, talent pathways, and scalable tech adoption in higher-education strategy and impact.
UNIRANKS - UR-LEAD
Global Ambassador
H.E. Ghanim Al Falasi is UNIRANKS Global Ambassador and Senior Vice President for Technology & Entrepreneurship at Dubai Silicon Oasis within DIEZ. He leads innovation and startup growth across DSO, DAFZ, and Dubai CommerCity, having previously overseen HR, business excellence, IT, supply management, people happiness, and client success at DSO. As Vice Chairman of DSO’s Smart City Project Committee, he advances city-scale digital transformation. Earlier, he served as Vice President of the ICT Unit at Dubai Airports and established the ICT directorate for the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority. His public service includes roles with the UAE Ministry of Defense, UAE Armed Forces, and the Central Military Command. As an advocate for UR-LEAD, H.E. Ghanim forges government–industry–university collaboration to embed entrepreneurial mindsets, scalable technology adoption, and talent pathways in higher-education strategy, ensuring institutions translate innovation into measurable outcomes for students, research, and national competitiveness.
Prof. Franz Baumann
Franz Prof. Baumann, ACUNS President (2024–2028), is a former United Nations Assistant Secretary-General with senior roles across peace operations, conference management, UNODC, UNOV and outer space affairs. Educated at Carleton University, he began in EU institutions, taught at Hertie, Konstanz, NYU and Georgetown, and serves on editorial and scientific advisory boards.
ACUNS President
Franz Baumann serves as ACUNS President from July 2024 through June 2028. He spent most of his professional life as a United Nations official, mainly based in New York but also in Lagos (Nigeria), Port-au-Prince (Haiti) and Vienna (Austria). He was Assistant Secretary-General for General Assembly Affairs and Conference Management, Special Adviser on Environment and Peace Operations, Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Deputy Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna and Officer-in-Charge of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs among other responsibilities. He started his career at the European Parliament in Luxembourg before transferring to the European Commission in Brussels and eventually joining Siemens in Munich. His doctorate in Political Science (African Studies) was obtained from Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada. He taught at the Hertie School in Berlin, the Universität Konstanz, New York University and Georgetown University. He is an Executive Editor of Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development , a member of the Scientists for Future (S4F) Professional Board, the Board of Advisers of The Centre for United Nations Studies | University of Buckingham and of the Nigerian Institute for Governance and Economic Transformation (IGET)
Dr. Jillian Pandor
Dr. Jillian Pandor is a higher-education leader with 15+ years across the U.S., Spain, and the Middle East. Chair of Liberal Arts and Assistant Professor at RIT Dubai; previously Academic Director at Curtin and faculty at Murdoch.
She serves on advisory boards. Research: language pedagogy, study abroad, international student integration.
Higher-Education Leader
Dr. Jillian Pandor is a passionate higher-education leader, educator, and advocate for bridging the gap between K-12 and higher education. She holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Teaching English and Spanish as Second/Foreign Languages from the University of Alicante and a B.S. World Languages Education and B.A. Applied Spanish from The Pennsylvania State University.
With 15+ years of experience across the U.S., Spain, and the Middle East, Dr. Pandor brings a global perspective to education. She currently serves as Chair of the Department of Liberal Arts and Assistant Professor of English & Spanish at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Dubai, where she leads a department of over 40 faculty members across 13 broad disciplines.
Previously, she was Academic Director at Curtin University Dubai and held a faculty position at Murdoch University Dubai where she taught postgraduate courses within their Master of Education Program.
Beyond academia, she is an active member of the GEMS Wellington Academy DSO Local Advisory Board and the Dubai British School Mira School Advisory Board, advising on school improvement, policy development, and quality assurance to enhance student outcomes.
Her research focuses on foreign language pedagogy, study abroad, and supporting international students’ successful integration into new learning environments.
Prof. Kingsley Moghalu
Dr. Kingsley Moghalu is a transformational leader, inaugural President of the African School of Governance and former Deputy Governor of Nigeria’s Central Bank. A 17-year UN veteran, he sits on ISCA’s board and OMFIF’s council, founded Sogato Strategies, IGET and IMoF, and is a renowned author, professor, and global commentator.
President at Institute for Governance and Economic Transformation (IGET)
Kingsley Moghalu is a transformational leader who has led organizations, boards and teams to outstanding success across global, continental and national platforms and across sectors.
He served as the inaugural President and Vice-Chancellor of the African School of Governance (ASG) university, a pan-African graduate school of public policy established in Kigali, Rwanda to drive governance transformation across the African continent, fully establishing the university’s faculty, students, brand, and operations within a record nine months.
He is a member of the Conference Board (Board of Directors) of the International Security Conference on Africa (ISCA), and a member of the Governing Council of the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum (OMFIF), an independent network of the world’s largest asset management firms, sovereign wealth funds and central banks with over $43 trillion in assets under management.
Dr. Moghalu was previously Professor of Practice in International Business and Public Policy at Tufts University, and the Oxford Martin Visiting Fellow at the University of Oxford. He served as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, appointed by the President of Nigeria and serving for a five-year term from 2009 to 2014. He earlier had a 17-year career in the United Nations system at duty stations in New York, Cambodia, Croatia, Tanzania, and Switzerland.
He later founded Sogato Strategies, a global strategy and risk advisory firm headquartered in Geneva and Washington DC that has advised some of the world’s largest institutional investors.
He is also the Founder of the Institute for Governance and Economic Transformation (IGET) and the Isaac Moghalu Foundation (IMoF), a charity that supports access to education for underprivileged youth in rural communities in Nigeria.
Kingsley Moghalu is the author of several books, a sought-after international keynote speaker, and a frequent guest on global media platforms such as CNN, BBC World TV, China Global Television Network, Bloomberg TV and CNBC. His opinion commentary has appeared in the Financial Times, USA Today, Washington Post, and South China Morning Post.
Shaylyn Carey
Shaylyn Carey is Portfolio Director for Professional Education at Harvard GSE and Director of MEPLI. Since 2019, she has led strategy, program design, faculty engagement, and partnerships for offerings including Women in Education Leadership and Family Engagement. Formerly in international education, she holds a BA (GWU) and MA (UT Austin).
Director for Professional Education at Harvard
Shaylyn Carey has been working with Professional Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education since 2019 and in her role as Portfolio Director she is responsible for strategic oversight, program design, faculty engagement, and external relations for several programs including Women in Education Leadership, Family Engagement in Education, and Building the Schools of the 21st Century: A Leadership Development Program for Qatar’s School Leaders. She is also the Director of the Middle East Professional Learning Initiative (MEPLI) at HGSE, a donor-funded program that supports educators in Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine to engage in Professional Education coursework while building a regional community of practice to address educational challenges in the region.
Prior to joining HGSE, Shaylyn worked in the international education field for 5 years both in the US and Jordan where she supported American university students to engage in enriching study abroad experiences. She holds a BA in International Affairs & Middle East Studies from the George Washington University and a MA in Middle Eastern Cultures & Languages from the University of Texas at Austin.
Harvard Graduate School of Education
Dr. Sabina Brakoniecka
Dr. Sabina Brakoniecka is an academic leader in higher-education capacity building and leadership development. A Professor at the University of Warsaw and Honorary Adjunct at MAAUN, she advances curriculum design and Europe–Africa collaboration. Author of four monographs, she champions research excellence, international partnerships, and innovative teaching in universities across Africa.
Chair of African Languages and Cultures, University of Warsaw, Poland.
Dr. Sabina Brakoniecka, is an en established academic leader with significant experience in capacity building and leadership development for higher education. She led a number of programs and initiatives in enhancing organisational and individual practices based on excellence models and best practice in higher education.
She is a Professor at the Chair of African Languages and Cultures, Faculty of Asian and African Studies, University of Warsaw, Poland, and an Honorary Adjunct Faculty Member at the School of Social and Management Sciences, Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria, Kano.
She has extensive experience in higher education leadership, curriculum development, and international academic cooperation, with a particular focus on strengthening collaboration between European and African universities, and is committed to promoting research excellence and educational innovation. Professor Brakoniecka is the author of four monographs and numerous scholarly publications, a recipient of multiple academic awards, and a member of the Association for the Study of the Middle East and Africa (ASMEA), Washington, D.C.
Julie Till
Julie Till is Director of Global Business Development at QAA. She leads global accreditation, institutional membership, and QA projects tailored to national contexts. Formerly OUP regional head for MENA and Central Asia, she holds an MA, MBA and Prince2 certification, with 30+ years’ experience based in the United Arab Emirates.
Director of Global Business Development
The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA)
Julie Till is Director of Global Business Development at the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) and a member of its Senior Leadership Team. QAA is the UK’s expert body on quality and standards and one of the world’s experts in quality assurance and enhancement. Her portfolio includes QAA’s global accreditation services for higher education providers, institutional membership and the development of international quality assurance and enhancement projects, tailored to national contexts and proportionate to the experience of individual ministries of higher education and regulatory agencies.
Prior to joining QAA, Julie was Head of the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia for Oxford University Press, setting up the regional office in Dubai in 2006. Julie played a critical role in designing literacy and language solutions for ministries of education across the region. She has an MA in Development Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies (University of London), an MBA from the University of Manchester and is a Prince2 Practitioner. Julie has spent over thirty years working internationally and is based in the United Arab Emirates.
Prof. Peter Mccaffery
Peter has over thirty-five years leadership, management, teaching and research experience across a range of institutions from Further Education Colleges to USA Ivy League University, including as Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive at the University of Cumbria and Deputy Vice Chancellor at London Metropolitan University.
Vice Chancellor- Royal Agricultural University- UK
As Vice Chancellor, Professor McCaffery’s role is to provide guidance and leadership on all aspects of academic activity within the university.
Peter has over thirty-five years leadership, management, teaching and research experience across a range of institutions from Further Education Colleges to USA Ivy League University, including as Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive at the University of Cumbria and Deputy Vice Chancellor at London Metropolitan University.
Awarded a PhD by the London School of Economics, he was an Idlewild Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania where he pioneered new modes of inquiry into political corruption in the American city.
A Winston Churchill Fellow and a UUK nominee to the Cabinet Office Top Management Programme Peter has acted as a consultant for a variety of bodies including the British Council, the governments of Botswana and Jamaica and the Centre for HE, Germany.
Awarded a National Leadership Fellowship by the Leadership Foundation for HE, he pioneered a Wider Management Mentoring Programme at London South Bank University for the university’s BME managers in partnership with the public and private sector, and led the equality and diversity team whose work was showcased by the Higher Education Funding Council (HEFCE) in their Sustaining Excellence in HE Review.
Peter is also the UK editor, author and collaborator for the Epigeum (Oxford University Press) project that pioneered the first world class, online programme with global reach on university leadership and management development, derivative of his: The HE Manager’s Handbook: Effective Leadership and Management in Universities and Colleges (Routledge, 2018). In 2021, he was appointed a Companion of the Chartered Management Institute.
An American historian by background, Peter was a regular analyst for Sky News on the Trump Presidency and its legacy.
Why Join UR-LEAD?
Unlock expertise, build global credibility, and lead institutional transformation.
Master Global & Regional Rankings
Understand UNIRANKS, THE, ARWU, US News, QS, Webometrics, and emerging systems. Learn what truly moves the needle in international rankings.
Strategize with Confidence
Design and implement data-driven, results-focused ranking improvement plans customized for your institution.
Join a Global Leadership Network
Access lifetime membership in URILF and become part of an exclusive international community of university leaders and experts.
Access Advanced Toolkits
Use hands-on toolkits for benchmarking, diagnostics, and strategic foresight, built by ranking and data experts.
Learn & Present in a Mini-Conference Format
Share your work, receive expert feedback, and build visibility through conference-style presentations and peer dialogue.
Earn a Prestigious Certification
Receive the UR-LEAD Certificate, awarded by UNIRANKS, and recognized across the global higher education sector as a mark of excellence in university rankings leadership.
Explore Our Leadership Platforms
UR-LEAD operates under the University Rankings International Leadership Council (UR-ILC) and connects with specialized platforms that empower institutions and leaders worldwide. From innovation exchange to global collaboration and leadership forums, each initiative provides unique opportunities to strengthen higher education excellence, ranking performance, and strategic impact.
Welcome to HELIX
HELIX (Higher Education Leadership & Innovation Exchange) is a global hub for advancing leadership, innovation, and excellence in higher education. Powered by UNIRANKS, it connects universities, governments, and industry leaders to co-create transformative solutions, drive impactful research, and foster global competitiveness through its network of Centers of Excellence.
About UR-ILC
The University Rankings International Leadership Council (UR-ILC) unites visionary university leaders, policymakers, and ranking experts to shape the future of higher education rankings. Leveraging UNIRANKS’ vast ecosystem, UR-ILC promotes transparency, innovation, and multi-sector collaboration, ensuring integrity and excellence in institutional performance and global ranking leadership.
Welcome to HERO
HERO (Higher Education Regulatory OpenLab) is UNIRANKS’ global program for designing, piloting, and certifying regulatory sandboxes in higher education. It enables ministries, agencies, and universities to safely test new models—digital pedagogy, micro-credentials, industry-aligned curricula, and data standards—inside controlled, auditable frameworks. Through expert facilitation, evidence-based monitoring, and annual certification, HERO turns innovation trials into policy insight, de-risks investment, and raises global competitiveness.
About UR-ILF
The University Rankings International Leadership Forum (UR-ILF) is a dynamic professional community for higher education leaders, ranking experts, and policymakers. It fosters collaboration, dialogue, and knowledge exchange, enabling members to access resources, share best practices, and engage in initiatives that enhance institutional visibility, global engagement, and strategic leadership.
What Makes UR-LEAD Unique?
A high-impact certification designed to deliver measurable results.
4 Days (Face-to-Face)
Structured for intensive, outcome-focused learning and leadership immersion.
Mini-Conferences + Workshops + Simulations
A dynamic blend of interactive learning, peer presentations, and expert panels.
Certification & Recognition UR-LEAD Certificate
Endorsed by UNIRANKS & Prof. Hesham Metwalli
- Lifetime membership in URILF
Real Impact on Institutions
Designed to help universities improve their global visibility, performance, and stakeholder engagement through data and strategy.
Core Themes
- Global & Regional Rankings Methodologies
- Benchmarking & Diagnostic Tools
- Future Foresight & Scenario Planning
- Institutional Strategy & Leadership
Collaborative Learning
Participants engage in real-time case studies, group strategy sessions, and ranked university simulations with expert guidance.
Future opportunities
Once you have completed UR-LEAD, you have the opportunity to become a Certified Program Leader for UR-LEAD. Those demonstrating a high level of engagement with the program will be invited. More details will be shared during the UR-LEAD program.
Explore the 4-Day Journey to Rankings Leadership
Each day is designed to build your expertise, sharpen your strategy, and expand your impact.
DAY 1
Foundations & Methodologies
Theme: Foundations, Current Landscape & Ranking Metrics
- The history, evolution, and impact of global/regional rankings
- Deep dive into UNIRANKS, QS, THE, ARWU, US News & others
- Data sources: bibliometrics, surveys, institutional submissions
- Comparative analysis frameworks and harmonization
- Stakeholder expectations and influence
- Mini-Conference: Lightning talks by participants
Learning Method: Interactive lectures, group discussions, case analysis, participant presentations
DAY 2
Benchmarking & Diagnostic Tools
Theme: Benchmarking Performance for Strategic Growth
- Data extraction and harmonization toolkits
- Benchmarking best practices and gap analysis
- Data visualization for reporting and internal alignment
- Case Study: Diagnostic review of a university’s ranking performance
- Mini-Conference: Participant project presentations
Learning Method: Workshops, toolkit demos, applied data exercises
DAY 3
Future Scenarios & Foresight
Theme: Designing for the Future of Rankings
- Trends in DEI, sustainability, student outcomes, digitalization
- Scenario planning for rankings beyond 2030
- New models: impact, interdisciplinary, regional & demographic lenses
- Introduction to URILF & URILC
- Mini-Conference: Peer panels and expert discussions
Learning Method: Scenario building, trend forecasting, peer review sessions
DAY 4
Rankings Leadership & Strategic Action
Theme: Leading Change in the Rankings Era
- Designing institutional strategies for rankings improvement
- From insights to action plans
- Organizational leadership and stakeholder engagement
- Innovation, change management, and impact modeling
- Mini-Conference: Action plan presentations + expert panel Q&A
Learning Method: Simulations, role play, final presentations, expert critique
Learning Benefits:
- Real-world feedback on your ranking strategies
- Build visibility as a rankings and benchmarking leader
- Practice leadership communication and stakeholder framing
- Collaborate with peers from around the world
Mini-Conference Experience: Learn, Share & Lead
At the heart of UR-Lead® is the Mini-Conference—a high-engagement format where every participant contributes, presents, and receives feedback from peers and global experts. It transforms attendees from passive learners into active knowledge leaders.
DAY 1
Lightning Talks
Participants introduce themselves and share insights, challenges, or ranking-related highlights from their institutions.
DAY 2
Research & Case Presentations
Participants present institutional research, ranking projects, or comparative analyses, receiving feedback from facilitators and peers.
DAY 3
Panel Discussions & Future Scenarios
Engage in moderated panels and peer review exercises focused on future foresight, trend mapping, and new ranking paradigms.
DAY 4
Strategic Action Plan Showcase
Each participant presents a personalized Ranking Improvement Strategy—designed during the program—to a panel of experts for feedback and certification assessment.
Learning Benefits:
- Real-world feedback on your ranking strategies
- Build visibility as a rankings and benchmarking leader
- Practice leadership communication and stakeholder framing
- Collaborate with peers from around the world
Mini-Conference Experience: Your Platform to Lead and Share
As part of the UR-Lead® program, participants will engage in the Mini-Conference Experience, a structured opportunity to present, discuss, and receive feedback in a dynamic and interactive setting. It is designed to simulate a global leadership forum, blending professional exchange with practical reflection.
DAY 1
Planned Activities:
Participant Introductions & Lightning Talks
Each participant will briefly present their institutional background, ranking goals, and strategic challenges, fostering early engagement and context sharing.
DAY 2
Research & Project Presentations
Participants are invited to share initial research, benchmarking tools, or diagnostic reviews for open feedback and discussion.
DAY 3
Peer Dialogue & Scenario Discussions
In facilitated panels, participants explore future trends and propose institutional responses, with a focus on forward-thinking leadership.
DAY 4
Action Plan Presentations
Each participant will present a draft of their ranking improvement strategy, with expert feedback to enhance its clarity, viability, and institutional impact.
Why It Matters:
- Create visibility around your leadership journey
- Practice real-time strategy presentation and storytelling
- Learn from peers in diverse institutional and regional contexts
- Build confidence as a change agent in university rankings
Note:
- This will be the first UR-LEAD Mini-Conference, designed to set a new standard in leadership learning through collaborative, high-impact engagement. Participants will help shape a global community of ranking professionals from day one.
Success Stories
What Strategic Leadership Can Achieve
Explore how top universities improved their rankings through vision, investment, and strategy, just like what UR-LEAD prepares you to do.
National University of Singapore (NUS)
Global Leap into the Top 25
NUS strategically invested in international collaboration, faculty excellence, and research productivity, transforming into Asia’s top-ranked university.
Key Takeaway: Long-term planning, global hiring, and research output were central to their rise.
Arizona State University (ASU)
Innovation as a Ranking Strategy
By focusing on innovation, societal impact, and global partnerships, ASU dramatically improved its standing in UNIRANKS, THE and QS rankings.
Key Takeaway: Reputation and relevance matter—ranking success followed institutional identity.
University of Malaya (UM), Malaysia
Breaking into the UNIRANKS, QS Top 200
Through research infrastructure, internationalization, and targeted metric improvement, UM became one of Southeast Asia’s highest-ranked institutions.
Key Takeaway: Local leadership with global benchmarks delivers real progress.
King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Saudi Arabia
Fast Ascent in ARWU and THE
KAU focused on recruiting highly cited researchers and elevating research output, leading to rapid growth in global rankings.
Key Takeaway: Targeted strategies can yield significant gains, even within a few years.
Write Your Own Success Story
UR-Lead draws inspiration from these success stories, not to copy, but to equip leaders with the tools to write their own.
💬 “Behind every ranking rise is a leadership decision. UR-Lead prepares you to make it.”
Certification That Signals Global Leadership
Earn recognition that extends far beyond the classroom.
UR-Lead® Certification
Upon successful completion of the 4-day program and mini-conference participation, each attendee will receive the UR-Lead® University Rankings Leadership Certificate, awarded by:
- UNIRANKS – World’s Largest Open University Rankings Ecosystem
This certificate demonstrates mastery in global rankings methodologies, institutional benchmarking, and strategy design.
Future opportunities: Once you have completed UR-LEAD, you have the opportunity to become a Certified Program Leader for UR-LEAD. Those demonstrating a high level of engagement with the program will be invited. More details will be shared during the UR-LEAD program.
Lifetime Membership in UR-ILF
All graduates will receive lifetime access to the University Rankings International Leadership Forum (UR-ILF), an exclusive network of:
- University presidents and vice presidents
- Institutional planning and quality officers
- Higher education consultants and experts
- Global speakers and conference alumni
UR-ILF Membership Benefits:
- Access to exclusive webinars and roundtables
- Priority invitations to UR-LEAD events and mini-conferences
- Opportunities for consulting, collaboration, and research
- A professional community of practice across continents
Sponsorships
Making leadership in university rankings accessible and impactful.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Organizations, universities, and ministries can partner with UR-Lead® to support global leadership in higher education and gain visibility among elite decision-makers.
Tier | Sponsorship OpportunitiesContribution | Sponsorship OpportunitiesBenefits |
|---|---|---|
Strategic | FREE (Governments) | Visibility + participation + long-term collaboration |
Platinum | $50,000 | 1 named scholarship for 3 years + premium brand exposure |
Diamond | $20,000 | Branding, speaking opportunity, recognition across events |
Gold | $10,000 | Brand placement + acknowledgment in program materials |
Sponsors play a key role in supporting transformative education leadership and get lasting visibility through URILF and WHERS conferences. |
Ready to Lead the Rankings Revolution?
Seats are limited. Be part of the first cohort shaping the future of university rankings leadership.
Join senior leaders and experts from around the world in a transformative 4-day experience.
- Applications close on 30 October 2026
- Group discounts and institutional packages available — contact us for details.
Frequently Asked Questions
UR-Lead® is tailored for university presidents, vice presidents, deans, institutional researchers, higher education consultants, quality assurance professionals, and policymakers aiming to specialize in rankings and strategic benchmarking.
