The present study analyzes the international rankings that intend to carry out a worldwide, regional and national classification of universities using different parameters. The aim of the paper is: 1) To review of the relationship between the international manuals of research, development and innovation (R+D+i) indicators and the data used by the rankings. 2) To analyze the different rankings in order to establish their real applicability. 3) To examine the application of these rankings in peripheral and emerging countries. The methodology used was based on: a) the search for information referred to international manuals of R+D+i; b) reviewing literature related to strength and weakness of the selected rankings; and c) collecting data from four Venezuelan universities for comparison based on research indicators. The results show that rankings measure university activities using different parameters, most commonly that of research publications. In this context there are difficulties in comparing the roles played by universities in peripheral countries such as Venezuela, in contrast with that of institutions in central countries, due to the heterogeneity and complexity of each university, which cannot be measured by the international rankings. The paper also aims to provide some guidelines concerning the research platform from leading universities of peripheral countries such as Venezuela, without thereby disregarding universities located in intermediate positions with respect to the core countries.