The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Aberdeen is university of the year
Jump up the rankings helps secure award
Aberdeen University has been named as the Scottish University of the Year after jumping up the rankings for the third year in a row.
The institution has risen up The Sunday Times Good University Guide table for three consecutive years and is now ranked 26th in the UK.
While two others in Scotland scored higher than it – St Andrews came third and Glasgow was 17 th – Aberdeen has been given special recognition for its rapid ascent with the title of Scottish University of the Year.
It placed 40th in last year’s list, marking the largest single-year jump of any university in the UK top 30.
Judges praised Aberdeen’s strong performance in teaching quality, degree outcomes and graduate prospects.
Newly appointed principal George Boyne said he was “absolutely delighted” and that he has every intention of further accelerating the success.
“I’ve been here in post for just over six weeks and now we have this wonderful accolade,” he said.
“We’re optimistic that we’ll continue on this path.
“This is the third year in a row we’ve improved so there is a trend of success and we have the right steps in place to ensure that goes forward.”
But he admitted: “I wouldn’t say we’ll leap straight to the number one ranking.
“While it’s fair to talk about competitors, we’re not trying to be like anyone else here.
“We’re just trying to be the best Aberdeen University possibly can, and we’re on that path.”
The university has also been praised for its extra-curricular work with projects such as the National Decommissioning Centre helping to boost the economy.
Further afield, the organisation has improved its international links with the opening of its first overseas campus, in Qatar, last year.
The judges also acknowledged its worldclass medical research, which netted the university the Queen’s Anniversary Prize – the highest honour that can be bestowed upon it – earlier this year.
Alastair McCall, editor of The Sunday Times Good University Guide, said: “Aberdeen’s sharp rise up our league table this year is the biggest of any university in the top 30 and gives it a ranking commensurate to its status as one of the UK’s leading academic institutions.
“It was a clear winner of our Scottish University of the Year award and earned a shortlisting for the UK University of the Year title off the back of improved performances in most of the metrics used in our tables.”