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I very much agree with the sentiments of Graeme Harper about leading universities (Letters, January 28).

Except for a handful of universities, and I do mean a handful, the overall standing of the university really does not matter. The important criterion is the department or the school.

After all, when seeking to measure research performance or teaching quality, the university as a whole is not considered at all.

Leading departments exist throughout the system, and it is on these that we need to focus.

Allan Ashworth
York