By the Global Nexus Education Team – Tony Wu, Liang Cheng, and Yang Song
Making Informed Choices: Top Research Resources for Higher Education
At Global Nexus Education, we believe that every student deserves access to clear, credible, and current information when making decisions about their future. With so much noise in the world of higher education—rankings, marketing campaigns, and anecdotal advice—it’s more important than ever to ground decisions in evidence. That’s why we’re committed to promoting an evidence-informed approach that empowers students and families with reliable data, rigorous analysis, and research-driven insights.
Whether you’re a student mapping out your post-secondary journey, a parent supporting that process, or an educator guiding the way, having access to the right tools can make all the difference. To help you navigate the complexity of today’s global higher education landscape, we’ve curated a list of top-tier research platforms and resources that are trusted by policymakers, academics, and education professionals alike.
Global and National Education Data Platforms
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
https://nces.ed.gov - OECD Education at a Glance
https://www.oecd.org/education/education-at-a-glance - World Bank EdStats
https://datatopics.worldbank.org/education
Higher Education Rankings and Research Insights
- QS Intelligence Unit / QS World University Rankings
https://www.qs.com - Times Higher Education (THE) Data & Insights
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/data-insights - Universitas 21 Rankings
https://universitas21.com
Think Tanks and Research Institutes
- Education Policy Institute (EPI)
https://epi.org.uk - Centre for Global Higher Education (CGHE)
https://www.researchcghe.org - OECD Education Policy Outlook
https://www.oecd.org/education/policy-outlook - UNESCO GEM Report
https://www.unesco.org/gem-report
News, Commentary, and Global Trends
- University World News
https://www.universityworldnews.com - Inside Higher Ed
https://www.insidehighered.com - The Conversation – Education Section
https://theconversation.com/global/topics/education-19
Digital Learning and Access
- Commonwealth of Learning (COL)
https://www.col.org - EdTech Hub
https://edtechhub.org
Additional Resources for Chinese Students
- China Education Center
https://www.chinaeducenter.com/en - Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China
http://en.moe.gov.cn - MyCOS Institute (麦可思研究院)
http://www.mycos.com.cn - CUCAS – China’s University and College Admission System
https://www.cucas.cn
Mainstream & Authoritative Global Education Platforms
- UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
http://uis.unesco.org - ERIC – Education Resources Information Center
https://eric.ed.gov - WENR – World Education News & Reviews
https://wenr.wes.org - INQAAHE – International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education
https://www.inqaahe.org - IAU – International Association of Universities
https://www.iau-aiu.net
Hidden Gems & Specialized Sites
- EUA Trends Reports (European University Association)
https://eua.eu - CHEA – Council for Higher Education Accreditation (USA)
https://www.chea.org - ACA – Academic Cooperation Association
https://aca-secretariat.be - EDUFI – Finnish National Agency for Education
https://www.oph.fi/en - NCES – IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System)
https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds - MyWorldAbroad
https://www.myworldabroad.com - Nuffic – Dutch Organisation for Internationalisation in Education
https://www.nuffic.nl/en - DAAD – German Academic Exchange Service
https://www.daad.de/en
Final Thoughts: Trust Research, Not Hype
At Global Nexus Education, we’re committed to making sure your decisions are guided by facts, methodologically sound research and reliable data. These resources represent some of the best available tools for evaluating universities, policies, and pathways. We encourage students, families, and educators to consult multiple sources and think critically about what the data is telling them—not just what the marketing materials say.
Have a question about how to use this data in your decision-making process?
Feel free to contact us directly or explore our personalized advising services. We’re here to support you on your journey to informed and empowered educational choices.