ABSTRACT
Each higher education (HE) institution will choose its own approach to benchmarking appropriate to its own needs and circumstances, but there are some main types of benchmarking that have been identified. For all comparisons except for internal benchmarking, the comparisons could be carried out at an institutional level although the topic in question could itself be subject-specific. There are a number of factors to consider when choosing institutions to include in benchmarking comparisons. The international dimension of benchmarking was addressed in Higher Education Statistics Agency's (HESA's) benchmarking project "International Benchmarking in UK Higher Education", through a dedicated report from PA Consulting Group. League table compilers aim to include indicators that are readily available on a standardized basis and which they believe are measures of quality and aspects that a university would want to improve. Until 2012, the Times and Sunday Times published separate UK university rankings based on different methods and metrics.
