Dear Colleague,

I think it is important to define which universities are the best in a given specific topics. For this, in the web, many rakings are available, for example:

https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2018

Usually these rakings are based on different criteria (for example: Research; Teaching; Facilities; ect.). Each criteria are declined in several indicator which take in account all aspects related to a given criteria.

Please have a look to this example:

http://www.iu.qs.com/services/qs-stars/qs-stars-methodology/#teaching

Yes brother Pirisi! That is a good idea. However, I reserve further comments for now.

It is good to note, that in spite of many indicators and areas of competence with each university, the best universities are the one solving teething problems facing humanity

Hi,

I think that the greatness of a an academic faculty is measured by its ability to prepare the students to life outside the academia. That is, the ability to make the connection with the "real world" ,outside, while still at the time of studies.

I think that the greatness of an academic faculty is measured by the number of M.Sc and PhD students produced with the quality of research published in high impact journals to solve real societies problems and by wiping away tears.

I want to appreciate scholars who have contributed in one way or the other to this discussion. For sure, one cannot ignore research efforts of scholars in journals indexed in Thomson Reuters and Scopus, citations as well as quality teaching as yardsticks for scholars greatness but we should not also ignore the fact that academics are in degree just like the certificates we award to students. thus, there are first class, second class and third class scholars. Experiences have shown that most first class scholars are very brilliant but they lack the ability of replicating knowledge. The joy and the beauty of every great academic is to replicate knowledge. He needs to make scholars out of nonentities. Students are novices and they need to be mentored to greatness. More often than not, many first class scholars don't see anything good in students or inexperienced scholars. Therefore, they are fond of abandoning them like kegs of toxic waste. Such scholars are editors of journals who derive joy in destroying the destinies of emerging scholars instead of mentoring them to becoming great scholars. Drawing from Christian literature, 1 Samuel 22:2, certain persons-the worthless, those who were indebted, the hopeless etc gathered themselves to David and he trained them in the wilderness, when he was running away from King Saul who wanted him dead at all cost, to become the mighty men of David. hence, a great scholar could be compared with God, who out of His expertise, specializes in picking worthless persons and turns them to stars. He picked Moses, a stammerer and turned him to the leader of 3 million people. He picked Gideon, who was always hiding and made him a great warrior. Jesus picked peter, a failure and used him to lay the foundation of Pentecostalism. However, there are second class and third class scholars who are very good in replicating knowledge. Such have succeed in producing scholars who are greater than them. Therefore, no matter how knowledgeable you are if you lack the ability of turning trashes to assets, you are not a great scholar.