About The Rankings Game

The Rankings Game is a satirical simulation that highlights the tension between positional competition (the endless race for university rankings) and absolute or material goods (like actual research, teaching quality, and campus improvements). It explores how institutions often divert real resources toward improving relative standing, even if it does little to advance overall knowledge or education.

Inspired by ideas from theorists like Fred Hirsch on positional competition, Amartya Sen on capabilities and inequality, Fraser on social justice and re-distribution, and Pierre Bourdieu on cultural capital, and broader debates on how shapes universities, the game turns complex dynamics into playful strategy.

How to Play

The game is best enjoyed in-person, in teams. Each team controls a university. might split responsibilities — one group focusing on faculty hires, on campus investments, another on rankings and strategic goals. encourages discussion, planning, and also reveals how internal can clash under external competitive pressures.

It's designed for:

• Team-building workshops in higher education
• Analysing how competition affects decisions in universities
• Reflecting on incentives and unintended consequences
• Or simply having some fun while building your own quirky academic empire

A Gentle Satire

While playful, the game also pokes fun at the sometimes obsessive mentality in higher education, where minor position shifts are or panicked over, often at the cost of more meaningful goals.

The unpredictable events — from lab fires to surprise grants — how external shocks and randomness often upend even the best-laid plans.

Credits

Created by Robin Shields at the University of Queensland.

For questions, suggestions, or to discuss running a session with your team, email: robin.shields@uq.edu.au