Every higher education institutions  is in race to  move ahead of another. hope it  is not only marketing   better than  other. 

Please let me know if these references/sites are helpful to you:

1.  Assessment of Higher Education Learning ... - OECD.org

www.oecd.org/education/skills-beyond-school/AHELOFSReportVolume1.pdf

Assessment of Higher Education Learning Outcomes Feasibility Study Report ... Potential impact for institutional autonomy and academic freedom 61

2.  Rankings and Accountability in Higher Education - UNESCO

unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002207/220789e.pdf

Rankings and Accountability in Higher Education Uses and Misuses. ... Higher Education World University ... proliferation of new institutional models in the sector ...

3.  Rankings, Institutional Behavior, and ... - acenet.edu

www.acenet.edu/news-room/Documents/Rankings-Institutional...Choice.pdf

Rankings, Institutional Behavior, and College ... called upon to create a federal ratings system with the higher education “consumer” in mind: students

Dennis

Dennis Mazur

Ranking of higher education institutions is originally a US invention which was based upon their points of view that were not accepted , in all aspects, in other parts of the world. That is why there has been a proliferation in rankings or "league tables" which have reached a staggering number of more than 100 rankings.

Scientifically speaking, the various rankings are rough indicators which are readily prepared in an approach that reflects (in the minimum) the actual  performance & quality.

Going by a single ranking is a sure way to spark bitter war of words (and may be actions) & wars are usually unethical. This will harm higher education, eventually.

In my humble opinion, the best way to look at the quality of higher education of a given institute is to look into how the graduates "the product" have performed in their places of work after they left the institution "the factory".  This opinion has been shaped up by my long career in teaching industrial chemistry.

Thank u @Nizar Matar, for your response. in answering the question.

Thanking you for adding an answer, @Dennis Mazur, information given is vital.

'In my humble opinion, the best way to look at the quality of higher education of a given institute is to look into how the graduates "the product" have performed in their places of work after they left the institution "the factory".

The later success of alumni is to a limited extent determined by the place that their university occupies in the 'social hierarchy'. Rankings definitely determine that place in the hierarchy. It is therefore not just the quality of the graduate that counts.'..

To a certain extent yes. However, as the labor market is increasingly demanding, it forces universities to act in a similar way.

A challenge for university graduates today is to be able to insert themselves in the labor market, which, being more competitive, makes universities turn to accreditation as a mechanism of retribution, improvement and social credibility.

absolutely @reinaldo Requeiro, thats true. thanks for respondinding  to my question.

I personally wouldn’t think of it as a war; instead I would describe it as a sound competition between universities worldwide. In attempting to get higher ratings, the higher education institutes strive to improve their research citations, graduation rates, attract more international students by offering students funds, and further their academic and staff reputation.

Thanking you for adding an answer, @Coen Urbanus , information given is vital.

Are we  not compromising with the ethics and essence of  Higher education ?

@Abdullah Noori . 

Please refer to,

Ellen Hazelkorn (2009). Impact of Global Rankings on Higher Education Research and the Production of Knowledge., UNESCO

Thank u @ Z. A. Al-Hemyari , for your response. in answering the question.

The evaluation processes of universities have a meaning for health and for the permanence of teachers:

Article INSTITUTIONAL ORGANIZATION CRITERIA AND EXPECTATIONS OF TEAC...

In answer to Dr.Ekta Sharma, "Are we  not compromising with the ethics and essence of  Higher education ? @Abdullah Noori ."

First, sorry for the late response! Then to answer the question, I would say no. When the universities are competing for higher ranking, they are in essence trying to better their educational performances and deliver even better educational services to the students.