Why Standrews has plenty to smile about

ST ANDREWS University is not only a good place to study, it’s a good place to work as well.

The Fife university has not only maintained its topfive position in a league table of British universities, it has also won international recognition for its efforts to make Fife one of the world’s best places to work.

St Andrews was placed fourth in the Guardian University Guide 2013, beaten only by the London School of Economics (LSE) in third, Oxford in second and Cambridge in first place. Third last year, St Andrews was leapfrogged by LSE.

As well as remaining one of the top-ranking universities in the country, St Andrews is also the only Scottish institution to feature in the top 10 of the 120 on the table.

Universities are ranked according to areas such as spending per student, student-to-staff ratio, graduate career prospects, grade requirements and how happy final-year students are with their courses, based on the annual national student survey.

A St Andrews University spokesman said: “Even although we have been leapfrogged this year by LSE, St Andrews’ overall scores in the guide have increased. To have improved our performance and maintained our position as a Scottish university among the top five in the UK in the face of increased competition is a great compliment to the skills and commitment of all who work and study here.”

Dundee University dropped to 43rd place, having been ranked 22nd and 26th in 2011 and 2012, respectively. A spokesman for Dundee University said: “A change in the methodology seems to have had a disproportionate adverse effect on our position for the last two years.”

Meanwhile, Dundee’s Abertay University was second from bottom in 119th place.

An Abertay University spokesperson said: “We would agree with Dundee University. It looks as if most Scottish universities have gone down in the table, which must be down to the changes in the methodology.”

Meanwhile, Scotland’s oldest university is among seven UK universities to achieve the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research award this month.

St Andrews and the Scottish Funding Council are the only Scottish institutions singled out by the EC in this round of awards for their efforts to attract, develop and retain the best research staff from across the globe.

Only last year, St Andrews was listed as the ninth best place to work outside America by top US publication, The Scientist.

Professor Chris Hawkesworth, deputy principal and vice-principal for research at St Andrews, said: “This award recognises our ongoing efforts not simply to attract the brightest and best to St Andrews but to create an environment in which they and their research can flourish.

“Great credit is due to our staff development team for the work it has carried out to help the university win this recognition.”