"We would actually agree with the ranking if it weren't conducted by the commission, which has no expertise, and it's not the commission's job to do it," Surapol Nitikraipoj said.

The result would be unreliable because the commission's assessment looked only at academics and research, which are not the overall missions of universities, he said.

"I believe that no university will accept the ranking. But if the commission goes ahead with announcing it, it has to take responsibility for what happens after," he said.

The baseless exercise would severely shake up state universities, he said.

Pavich Tongroach, secretary-general of the Higher Education Commission, said the ordering of institutions, which is announced today was well substantiated and would help promote the improvement of research and teaching.

The list wouldn't include Thammasat, as its rector didn't want it to be graded, Pavich said.

Surapol said his university sent a letter opposing the commission's plan early this year and received an answer from the commission in May the appraisal was called off.

The ranking should have been performed by the Evaluation and Certification of Educational Standards Office, he said.

Professor Somwang Piriya-nuwat, director of the office, said the organisation that carried out the ranking should be independent, such as the media.

Pavich said that besides Thammasat, two private universities didn't want to be included.

"But I have to warn that the ranking information will be used to consider annual budgets of universities in the future. It will affect the unranked universities," he said.