During the past two decades there has been a surge of global rankings and indicators comparing countries in various policy domains. Global rankings and indicators now constitute a relatively coherent framework within which to assess and steer national production and dissemination of knowledge. This is evident in global measurements of higher education and innovation. However, university and innovation rankings share data and underlying ideological premises with preceding comparative assessments of (good) governance and national competitiveness. Together they make up a more or less unified political imaginary that governs the conduct of individuals and institutions with respect to knowledge, research and (higher) education. The indicators have also contributed to perceptions on national and regional ‘models’ and learning from others. My paper analyses these trends in the field of higher education and innovation in Europe.
