NEWS Umeå University advanced to place #251-300 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2015-16, a dramatic rise from its 2014-15 position of #351-400. The list is recognised as one the world’s most prestigious and widely referenced university rankings.
“It’s very gratifying that we have advanced so many places, and to be ranked again among the world’s 300 premiere universities is a good indicator. Times Higher Education’s ranking list is among the most respected, and although rankings are far from a complete validity, the results demonstrate that we are an international university to be reckoned with,” says Lena Gustafsson, Vice-Chancellor at Umeå University.
The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Ranking lists the world's 800 leading universities. It is based on 13 performance indicators grouped into five key areas: teaching, research, citations, industry income and international outlook.
Umeå University was strongest in the key area of citations. Data was examined from more than 51 million citations to 11.3 million journal articles, published over five years. Furthermore, the university was ranked in the top-third percentile for research income to academic staff, which is seen as crucial to the development of world-class research.
Umeå University received the highest score in the performance indicator of international co-authorship, which measures the proportion of a university’s total research journal publications that have at least one international co-author and reward higher volumes.
“It is particularly important that Umeå University continues to have strong standing in research, especially since we are a university that recruits globally. The university has deliberately worked to improve its citation patterns recently, but it is a lengthy process that we follow through our own analysis rather than the outcome of rankings, says Lena Gustafsson.
A total of eleven higher education intuitions in Sweden were ranked in the 2015-16 list, with Umeå University sharing ninth place. Earlier this year, Umeå University was ranked #51 by THE of the top 100 universities in the world under 50 years old.
“The results of the THE World University Rankings are trusted by students and their families, academics, university leaders and governments. For Umeå University to make 251-300 in the world is an outstanding achievement to be celebrated,” says Phil Baty, editor of Times Higher Education rankings.
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2015-2016
Article on Umeå University's #51 place in THE 100 under 50 Rankings 2015
Editor: David Meyers