By Gavin Mackintosh-
Oxford University has come top of the Times Higher Education world university rankings – the first for a UK university has dominated the rankings. The UK’s University of Cambridge came 4th- an excellent outlook for UK Universities.
Our premiere University beat the highly prestigious Harvard University, which was in sixth place this time. Imperial College of London has also done very well to come 8th place. Californian institute of technology in the U.S came second and the Massachusetts institute of technology came 5th, whilst the University of Chicago came 8th.
The new rankings are a welcome news showing the high standard of further education in the UK, also reflecting the progressively improving level of education in the U.K
MEASURES
The Times Higher tables rank universities globally on measures that include teaching standards, research and the quality of staff.
Editor of rankings, Phil Baty said it was “fantastic news” Oxford had come top, but the UK’s vote to leave the European Union was a big threat to the sector.
“The referendum result is already causing uncertainty for the sector,” he said.
“As well as some top academics reporting they have been frozen out of collaborative research projects with EU colleagues, many are admitting that they might look to relocate to a university outside the country.
“It is also having an impact on the UK’s potential to attract international talent in the future.”
The Netherlands’ 13 leading research-intensive universities all made it into the top 200.
However, a third of France’s 27 universities have slipped down the tables, while half of Italy’s 39 institutions have dropped down.
CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE
Central and Eastern Europe produced just one university in the Czech Republic, making the top 600, down from six last year, while three of Romania’s four universities drop to a lower band. However, Asia continues to rise up the rankings with four new entries in the top 200 group, bringing its total to 19.
China’s Peking University joins the top 30, in 29th place, up from 42nd last year, while Tsinghua joins the top 40 in 35th place, up from joint 47th.
Five of Hong Kong’s six representatives make the top 200 – more than any other Asian region – and the National University of Singapore, Asia’s top university, stands at 24th, its highest ever rank.
REFLECTION
The high attainment of Oxford, Cambridge, and Imperial College, most likely reflect the commitment of the institutions in hiring quality staff, and also promoting innovative research useful to academic learning. Also, the number of extremely bright students at these Universities often demand the highest level of teaching, not only to bring the best out of them, but also to nurture them to continue the great work of these institutions.