has launched in the UK, proclaiming that its data ¨C showing feedback and ratings out of 10 on named lecturers by university ¨C will ultimately ¡°generate an alternative ranking system to that of the norm¡±.

The website, which bills itself as being ¡°by students for students¡±, states: ¡°Universities and courses will be ranked purely on the lecturers¡¯ ability to educate and inspire, rather than churn out research and publish articles.¡±

The initial results do not always suggest a sophisticated level of engagement.

A review for a professor of environmental engineering who has earned 10 out 10 from three reviews gives his pros as ¡°Massive sense of humour, dwarfed by intellectual capability.¡± His cons are: ¡°Profane when discussing LFC and MUFC [Liverpool Football Club and Manchester United Football Club].¡± Another gives the same academic¡¯s pros as: ¡°He¡¯s the man!¡± While his cons in that review are: ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with perfection.¡±

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Another lecturer, in early modern literature, gets a glowing review, saying that ¡°his genuine desire to help you and make sure you get the best out of your time at Uni are clear from the get go - this is a man who really wants you to succeed¡±. The con is: ¡°While not necessarily a bad thing, he is brutally honest with his feedback¡­He swears quite a lot, which some people might have a problem with.¡±

In the US, Rate My Professors ¨C which has itself allowed posts about UK academics since 2008 - has had a big impact for some.

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In 2012, Patrick Hicks, writer-in-residence at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was moved to on the site, in a posting on news website salon.com.

After describing Rate My Professors as ¡°a public kind of scolding, and this one stung¡±, he ended up thanking the student ¡°for making me think deeply about myself¡±.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com