3 UAE universities rise in global education rankings
This year, three universities in the UAE, spearheaded by Khalifa University, have made it onto the 2024 edition of the Global 2000 list compiled by the Center for World University Rankings, showcasing improvements in their global standings as compared to last year.
Over the past five years, the UAE has experienced a remarkable 79 per cent increase in its global contribution to scientific research.
Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa University has risen 16 spots to 876 from last year’s 892nd position with an improvement in research performance and is placed in the top 4.2 per cent worldwide. United Arab Emirates University has risen 65 spots to 1113th from last year’s 1178th, while University of Sharjah climbed 146 spots to 1253rd.
These figures by CWUR, the publisher of the largest academic ranking of global universities, analysed 62 million outcome-based data points to rank universities from around the world.
Overall, the UAE is improving against rivals worldwide, with its three leading universities all rising in the standings on the back of a stronger showing in research performance. There were several yardsticks like quality of education, employability, quality of faculty and research performance, against which these universities have been ranked. This year, 20,966 universities were ranked, and those that were placed at the top made the Global 2000 list – which includes institutions from 94 countries.
CWUR uses seven objective and outcome-based indicators grouped into four areas to rank the world’s universities. Twenty-five per cent is attributed to quality of education; another 25 per cent has been attributed to employability, with 10 per cent and 40 per cent given to the faculties’ quality and research performance respectively.
Dr Nadim Mahassen, president of the Center for World University Rankings, commented on the national picture saying: “It is encouraging to see the UAE making gains in the rankings. In the last five years, the UAE’S global share in scientific research grew by an astonishing 79 per cent. Additional investment in research and development will allow the country to be even more competitive in the international arena of science and technology”.
Dr Mahassen highlighted while this year’s rankings confirm the world-class standing of the US higher education sector, the decline of nearly two-thirds of American institutions is concerning, amid stiff competition from Chinese universities. He added that the overall slide of US institutions mirrors those of UK, Russian, and Japanese universities.