The University of Queensland has advanced seven places to be ranked 74th in the world in the Times Higher Education's 2011-2012 World University Rankings released today.
UQ was one of only four Australian universities, and the only university in Queensland, ranked in the top 100.
It achieved an overall score of 58.6 in the rankings, which use 13 indicators, across five broad areas of activity:
• Teaching – the learning environment (weighted at 30 per cent) — UQ’s score was 47.5
• Industry income – innovation (2.5 per cent) — UQ score 62.6
• Citations – research influence (30 per cent) — UQ score 70.2
• Research – volume, income and reputation (30 per cent) — UQ score 52.3
• International outlook – staff, students and research (7.5 per cent) — UQ score 80.8.
The Times Higher Education World University rankings, which will release subject rankings over the next few weeks, said of UQ:
“Few universities can boast either their own coral-island marine-studies centre or an experimental mine for mineral research – but Queensland can.
“Founded in 1909, it offers more than 370 degree programmes and 5600 subjects taught by an academic staff of around 2600, including researchers from its main and satellite campuses, to a 40,500-strong student body.”
THE Editor Anne Mroz said the company this year had fine tuned its
rankings methodology to employ a new indicator that enhanced its "international outlook" category.
This category takes into account the proportion of international staff and students and the proportion of research papers that are co-authored with at least one international partner.
Another key change this year is the introduction of subject normalisation for a wider range of performance indicators, giving greater parity to the arts, humanities and social sciences.
UQ Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Max Lu said UQ had now been rated one of the world's leading 100 universities by three independent rankings with different methodologies in 2011.
These were:
• the recent Shanghai Jiao Tong Academic Ranking of World Universities, which rated UQ at 86th in the world;
• the QS World University Rankings (world ranking 48); and
• the THE World University Rankings (74).
“These rankings independently confirm that UQ's credentials are highly respected internationally as being among the very best,” he said.
UNESCO recognises 9760 universities in the world, and the current (21st) edition of the International Handbook of Universities lists 14,000 higher education institutions in 183 countries, so UQ is well and truly placed among the top one percent of international universities in all these rankings.
Professor Lu said the ranking recognised the University's strong investment in research infrastructure and high quality researchers and endorsed strong government and philanthropic investment.
“UQ has also been recognised in other ratings systems,” he said.
“These range from multiple five star ratings in the Australian Good Universities Guide; to being endorsed as one of the best places to work in academia internationally in the life sciences; to our Business School being ranked one of the top two in Australia for its MBA program.
"UQ was above world standard in more broad fields of research than any other Australian university in the Excellence in Research for Australia assessment.
“We offer the UQ Advantage, which also includes a comprehensive range of programs across four campuses and our research quality and infrastructure.
“UQ has strong international linkages and domestic and international student exchange programs; excellent industry, community and professional networks; world class teaching and learning facilities; and well resourced libraries, residential colleges, and sports facilities.”
The University will hold a UQ Options evening on Monday December 19, 2011 from 4pm to 7pm at the UQ Centre, Union Road, St Lucia, following the release of Queensland Year 12 results on Friday, December 16.
• For details of the exciting range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs offered by UQ please visit: www.uq.edu.au/study
• People interested in undertaking research higher degrees at UQ should visit: http://www.uq.edu.au/grad-school/
• Important information for international students is at: http://www.uq.edu.au/international/
Media: Jan King 0413 601 248.
