The University of Newcastle has risen 23 places to 268 in the world in the 2012 QS World University Rankings released today, the largest increase of any Australian university.
The QS World Rankings evaluate more than 700 universities across the world and rank the top 400.
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Caroline McMillen, said the independent ranking was an outstanding result that reflected Newcastle’s growing international reputation for consistently high-calibre education, and world-class research and innovation.
“Global competition in the higher education sector is intense and universities are facing increasing scrutiny of their performance and reputation. Newcastle has performed exceptionally well against a challenging backdrop for higher education.
“This independent international assessment, where we have been measured against the world’s best, is a clear indicator that our performance and reputation are on a strong upward trajectory.”
The QS World Rankings are compiled from data sourced through global surveys of academics and employers, and publicly available university data. The rankings measure six indicators - academic reputation, journal citations, employer reputation, faculty/student ratio, percentage of international staff and percentage of international students.
In addition to overall performance, the QS rankings also assess universities in five disciplinary areas. The University was one of 10 in Australia to achieve a world ranking for all of the five disciplinary areas included in the rankings.
“We are particularly delighted that the University of Newcastle ranked in the top 160 universities in the world for Life Sciences and Medicine, and Engineering and Technology,” Professor McMillen said.
“Our QS ranking in the top three per cent of universities in the world and our strong performance in the disciplinary rankings are significant results for our regions. We are emerging as a global leader in developing world-class innovation, and building social and economic strength across our communities.”
Today’s results follow the University’s ranking last month of 356 in the world by the Academic Ranking of World Universities*. In June 2012, the QS ‘Top 50 under 50’ world rankings placed Newcastle at number 33 of young universities in the world; and the Times Higher Education World University Rankings placed Newcastle number 45 in its inaugural ‘100 Under 50’.
* Previously known as the Shanghai Jiao Tong Academic Ranking of World Universities.
For interviews with Professor McMillen contact Katie Porritt on 02 4921 5120 or 0418 445 888.
