@85bears46 The RUR ranking is actually just as objective as the ARWU if you look at the methodology. In fact, it is more objective because it does not undercount the humanities and quality of instruction.
So you may disagree but its true. RUR has just as much credence as ARWU. Both objective. Both coming from dictatorial, militaristic, totalitarian government controlled countries. There is not much room for dissent (there is more freedom in Russia than China). “Former” communists (China is still politically communist, although economically less so)
So even if one accuses Russia of “manipulating” the RUR and should not be trusted, the ARWU is worse because it is from a country that is much much much worse when it comes to freedoms, independence of the academe, the press, and everything else.
so yes, I stand by my earlier statement: The Russian RUR has as much credence as (if not more than) the “Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU)” aka Shanghai Jiao Tong University rankings from fucking communist China