Competition has created a new system of evaluating universities, which is known as University Rankings. Ranking means knowing the position of an institute in comparison with other institutes based on the measurement of a combination of criteria and indicators; ultimately, rankings present a list of the names of universities and institutes in a ranked form. Today, the ranking of universities and higher education institutes is considered an integral part of higher education systems, because it is only with a purposeful, structured and precise monitoring of their performance can continuous improvement of quality be achieved. Therefore, it is possible to rank these institutes with a detailed and comprehensive design of performance indicators, or, by creating a competitive environment, facilitate rapid progress and the achievement of higher education objectives.

            The initial idea of ​​ranking universities and the world’s higher education centers was proposed by Shanghai Jiao Tong University in 1998. This idea was proposed in response to the concern of the then President of China, who emphasized that a number of Chinese universities should be active at the international level and be considered among the top universities of the world. Therefore, in order to accomplish this objective, Chinese policy makers decided to first design a model for ranking universities of the world and then, by using its results, they would firstly determine the position of Chinese universities in comparison with other universities in the world, would secondly identify the strengths and weaknesses of Chinese universities based on the results and would, ultimately, take the necessary measures to improve the status and position of Chinese universities in the world rankings. Accordingly, during a project, Shanghai Jiao Tong University was commissioned to rank the universities of the world and determine the position of Chinese universities at the global level. Indeed, the purpose of this ranking was measuring the gap between Chinese universities and top universities of the world and also planning which was aimed at reducing the distance, improving the quality of Chinese universities and improving their position at the international level. Finally, the results of ranking world universities by the Shanghai University ranking system, which became known as the Academic Ranking of World Universities, were published internationally for the first time in 2003 and have been updated annually since that year.

            Today, several ranking systems are used in the world, and various organizations and institutions are engaged in this matter specifically or as one of their activities. Universities are ranked based on various criteria and indicators; among them, we can mention research criteria, educational criteria, international stature, comforts, facilities, and socio-economic activities. Universities that are included in this ranking have the necessary characteristics and indicators for the growth and development of countries. The goals of ranking systems can be summarized as follows:

- Helping to increase the awareness of students to compare quality institutes around the world and select the right institute to study at

- Increasing the motivation of healthy competition among higher education institutes

-  Facilitating the distinction between different types of institutes, educational programs and fields of study

- Explaining the status of science production among higher education institutes and delineating their strengths and weaknesses in different subject areas

In what follows, the most important university ranking systems are introduced: