University climbs in rankings
The University of Lethbridge continues to climb in Research Infosource rankings, and has jumped to second in the country in the 2017 undergraduate classification.
It’s the third successive year the U of L has climbed in the rankings, while maintaining its 34th position in the overall rankings.
“Our faculty are among the best in the world at attracting research dollars to the university and pushing the research envelope,” Erasmus Okine, U of L vicepresident of research, says in a news release.
“The work they are doing significantly impacts our daily lives and improves the quality of life for people throughout southern Alberta, Canada and beyond.”
Prairie universities were highlighted by Research Infosource for combining to beat the national trend in terms of research income growth, while the U of L was singled out for leading all undergraduate universities in research intensity per graduate student.
Four universities beat the national trend by posting research income growth three or more times the national increase. Research Infosource also spotlighted this year research income per graduate student enrolled in 2015-16 at full-service universities. McMaster University attracted $81,100 per student; the University of Guelph $60,100; and University of Lethbridge $35,800 in the Medical/Doctoral, Comprehensive and Undergraduate categories respectively.
Seven prairie universities on Canada’s Top 50 Research Universities List increased their combined research income by 3.6 per cent in 2016, compared to the national research income growth of 2.2 per cent. Total research income increased to $1.25 billion from $1.20 billion in 2015.
University of Alberta maintained fifth spot overall with $433.7 million of research income, while the University of Calgary dropped a position to number seven at $360.5 million. The University of Saskatchewan gained two places to number 11 with research income growth of 27.8 per cent to $215.9 million, and the University of Manitoba climbed two spots to number 12, with 17.4 per cent growth to $191.3 million.
The University of Lethbridge maintained its 34th position, increasing its research income by 7.4 per cent to $19.7 million, while the University of Regina climbed two spots, ranking 35th at 12.6 per cent growth to $17.6 million. The University of Winnipeg maintained position 47 at $7.7 million.
“What I find impressive is that our faculty are educators first,” Okine says. “They bring their research activities into the classroom and subsequently provide outstanding opportunities for both our undergraduate and graduate students to participate in these programs.”
Looking ahead, Okine is excited about the continued development of the Destination Project, the new science and academic building, which will open in 2019.
“This new, state-of-the-art facility will create even greater opportunity for our faculty and students, enhance multidisciplinary research, further community outreach initiatives and help the University as it continues to attract top research minds to campus.”