University rankings have been around for at least a couple of decades now. Higher education performance evaluation tools have since proliferated, both at the regional and international levels. Despite the criticism being levied against the various rankings, it is undeniable that they provide, in one form or another, useful instruments for benchmarking.

Rankings, nonetheless, have so far not kept abreast of the profound changes in higher education brought about by the opportunities offered by the ICTs. Furthermore, they have not - with counted exceptions - included online education in their studies.

Today, most universities have, to varying degrees, adopted the Internet as a delivery mode to complement their traditional teaching. A few universities actually teach exclusively online, and there are staggering growth perspectives in the online student population as internet-based education gains legitimacy and is being identified as a rigorous, viable, and economically sustainable alternative to residential universities.

Are rankings likely to focus on eLearning in the near future? If so, what parameters will be employed, and who will be defining them? What impact will they have on online education? If not, are present rankings of any use to online-educational institutions for benchmarking purposes?

The Universitat Oberta de Catalunya invites members of the university community the world over, policy makers, analysts, and publishers to Barcelona, where they will join experts to exchange views as they debate these issues at the first International Seminar on Higher Education Rankings and eLearning.