The European Union on 30 January launched U-Multirank, a university ranking system based on broad criteria. In addition to research, used in most existing systems, it assesses universities' quality of teaching and learning; international networking; external partnerships; and regional engagement. Some 500 universities are expected to participate. A consortium led by the Centre for Higher Education in Götersloh, Germany, and the Centre for Higher Education Policy Studies in Enschede, the Netherlands, will compile the first round of rankings by February 2014. The system is meant to improve transparency and reduce elitism in rankings, says a European Council representative.