Commentary: Are perceptions of university prestige changing as Asian institutions rise up the ranks?

For Ms Tan, the appeal of highly ranked institutions remains relevant and understandable. “Places like MIT, Harvard and Oxford attract strong teachers and students,” she said, pointing to her own experience taking Harvard’s well-known CS50 Computer Science course.

Another friend drew a distinction between overseas and local universities. “When it comes to local universities, ranking was less relevant in influencing decisions as all the major names are of comfortable standing,” she said.

I suspect many parents would agree. Few would question the quality of our local universities. When families compare overseas options, however, rankings often become a convenient way of sorting through an overwhelming number of choices.

Yet while institutions in China, Hong Kong and South Korea are increasingly visible due to rankings, deciding whether these universities are the right choice is not a question rankings alone can answer. The better question is whether a particular institution, course and environment align with a young person’s interests and aspirations.