The World 100 Reputation Network set out to explore approaches to online communications at top global universities. The research explores budgets, teams, in-house capacity, outsourcing, approaches to monitoring and evaluating digital communications, policies and guidelines, internal training and more.

Our 2017/18 research project reviewed the online brand profile of the best universities in the world - the top 50 in the world in all four main global rankings, plus W100 members and nominated peers.

In 2016/17, The World 100 Reputation Network annual research project explored the reputation surveys that contribute to major university rankings, with a particular focus on ranking influencers: academics and employers.

Strategies for impactful research communications was the focus of our 2015/16 World 100 annual research project; access the full report and case studies for the study here.

The World 100 2013/14 research project focused on international PhD students, and considered recruitment, use of rankings, university choice and reputational understanding. We conducted qualitative interviews with international PhDs at 21 of our member institutions across 12 countries.

Network Director Louise Simpson worked with four UK universities on a project funded by the British Government’s Higher Education Funding Council to develop best practice in internal communications for higher education.

The Rise and Fall survey looked at the relationship between changes in rankings and reputation as a whole. The main objectives were to discover how a rise or fall in rank is managed and how it impacts upon the institution's reputation.

Our first research into structures and resources was in 2008 when we gathered valuable insight into reputation management from 95 external relations and international directors working in world-class universities across the globe.