https://en.sputniknews.africa/20260225/are-university-ranking-systems-unfair-to-africa-and-will-there-be-west-over-greenland-world-war-1083716504.html
Are University Ranking Systems Unfair to Africa and Will There Be West-Over-Greenland World War?
Are University Ranking Systems Unfair to Africa and Will There Be West-Over-Greenland World War?
Sputnik Africa
This edition of the Nnete Fela Show interrogates how seriously university ranking systems should be taken by African institutions. We also discuss the... 25.02.2026, Sputnik Africa
2026-02-25T14:05+0100
2026-02-25T14:05+0100
2026-02-25T14:05+0100
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Are University Ranking Systems Unfair to Africa and Will There Be West-Over-Greenland World War?
Sputnik Africa
This edition of the Nnete Fela Show interrogates how seriously university ranking systems should be taken by African institutions. We also discuss the historical significance of the US move to acquire Greenland, unpacking the geopolitical tension that this is causing in the West.
The show begins with an explanation of exactly how university ranking systems function and in what ways they are unfair toward African schools. We are joined by Professor Tumi Senokoane who elaborates on the rise of Chinese universities in these rankings, the importance of research outputs as measures of success, and the significance of a "BRICS university ecosystem.” Professor Senokoane also emphasizes the importance of having well-funded institutions if Africa wants to climb the rankings. He believes that part of the reason why some US universities have slipped in the rankings is because of the funding cuts that have been undertaken by the current US administration. Later, we discuss the reasons behind and significance of the US position on acquiring Greenland. The host suggests that the tensions arising from this position might be the beginning of a type of ironic war between the West. The highly critical professor Metji Makgoba joins the show to unpack some of these dynamics. He suggests that the world order is shifting and that Europe might need to reconsider the balance of power amid the fracturing of the transatlantic alliance.Whether we are re-evaluating the prestige of American universities or watching the tectonic plates of the transatlantic alliance shift over the icy terrain of Greenland, the message is clear: the old maps of power are being redrawn. As African institutions look to build their own ecosystems of excellence and the West grapples with its own internal fractures, we must ask, is the world ready for a new order where the traditional centers no longer hold?► Listen to all episodes of the Nnete Fela Show.
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podcasts, united states (us), donald trump, greenland, west, brics, north atlantic treaty organization (nato), аудио
podcasts, united states (us), donald trump, greenland, west, brics, north atlantic treaty organization (nato), аудио
Are University Ranking Systems Unfair to Africa and Will There Be West-Over-Greenland World War?
This edition of the Nnete Fela Show interrogates how seriously university ranking systems should be taken by African institutions. We also discuss the historical significance of the US move to acquire Greenland, unpacking the geopolitical tension that this is causing in the West.
The show begins with an explanation of exactly how university ranking systems function and in what ways they are unfair toward African schools. We are joined by Professor Tumi Senokoane who elaborates on the rise of Chinese universities in these rankings, the importance of research outputs as measures of success, and the significance of a "BRICS university ecosystem.” Professor Senokoane also emphasizes the importance of having well-funded institutions if Africa wants to climb the rankings. He believes that part of the reason why some US universities have slipped in the rankings is because of the funding cuts that have been undertaken by the current US administration.
“You will know that part of the reason the United States universities are declining in terms of their rankings - is because the United States have started to take away the bigger chunk of their funding towards the institution of high learning," Professor Senokoane says.
Later, we discuss the reasons behind and significance of the US position on acquiring Greenland. The host suggests that the tensions arising from this position might be the beginning of a type of ironic war between the West. The highly critical professor Metji Makgoba joins the show to unpack some of these dynamics. He suggests that the world order is shifting and that Europe might need to reconsider the balance of power amid the fracturing of the transatlantic alliance.
“I think this shows that the alliance […] is now fragile because Trump is running a one-man show. He doesn't care about the existing alliances between the US and European countries, and he's by any means necessary pushing his own ambitions,” Makgoba suggests. "I think he is just showing that now the balance of power is shifting, and Europe, in the form of NATO, now need to think about a new world order because Trump is now shifting the balances of power,” he adds.
Whether we are re-evaluating the prestige of American universities or watching the tectonic plates of the transatlantic alliance shift over the icy terrain of Greenland, the message is clear: the old maps of power are being redrawn. As African institutions look to build their own ecosystems of excellence and the West grapples with its own internal fractures, we must ask, is the world ready for a new order where the traditional centers no longer hold?
► Listen to all episodes of the Nnete Fela Show. 
