The University of Aberdeen has been ranked in the top 200 in a new guide listing the world’s best institutions which is published in today’s Times Higher Education Supplement.
The institution has secured 195th place in this year’s Times Higher World University Rankings - a rise of 72 places on the previous year.
Just four Scottish universities are included in the guide – Edinburgh, Glasgow, St Andrews and Aberdeen. Top ranking goes to Harvard University – one of 55 American institutions featured. Cambridge University is judged the top UK institution which gives it a world ranking of second place, followed by Oxford University in third place. The 15-page guide includes 29 UK institutions. Forty-one European universities are in the top 100 and 86 European institutions in the top 200.
Peer review is a key element of the rankings which are now in their third year. A total of 3,703 academics from around the world – from the areas of science, medicine, technology, social sciences and arts and humanities - were asked to name up to 30 universities they regard as the top institution in their particular field.
This peer review accounted for 40% of the score allotted to each university. It was further enhanced by a further 10 per cent of the score based on the opinion of a vital group of outsiders – graduate recruiters - who observe the world’s universities closely.
The quality of teaching and research and the institution’s intellectual power were among elements gauged for the rankings. Universities were also assessed on how international they are.
Professor C Duncan Rice, Principal and Vice Chancellor at the University, is delighted at the University’s ranking. He said: “Universities are increasingly being judged on their international competitive position. This news confirms that the University of Aberdeen has made considerable progress in competing with the world’s best institutions.
“The University has set itself a target of being among the world’s best universities, and the Times Higher World University Rankings illustrate how much progress we have made towards that goal. It confirms Aberdeen’s position among the world’s leading universities.
“There has been an unprecedented £9m investment in Aberdeen’s intellectual leadership with 63 professorial appointments made in the last three years and close to 100 new junior appointments in the last 12 months.
“The University of Aberdeen contributes £245million a year to the economy, and we are entering our Sixth Century of achievement as an international leader in learning.
“Added to this, our Sixth Century Campaign, which aims to raise £150 million by 2010, shows that we are one of the most progressive fundraising institutions in Britain.”
The University is a leading institution in arts and social sciences, computing and mathematics, engineering, medicine, and the medical and life sciences.
Applications for undergraduate admissions at the University of Aberdeen have risen this year over 2% with more than 15,000 applications received for 2006 entry – the highest number ever recorded at this stage of the recruitment process.
Aberdeen has also made a bold statement about how it intends to match its academic investment with new facilities. Plans for a £55.5 million library are at the centre of a £230 million capital investment strategy for the next decade. The library will be a showcase for a collection of 250,000 historic books and manuscripts that will make Aberdeen an international centre for humanities.
Other capital projects at different points on the way to completion are The Hub, an £8 million student centre; the £16.5 million Matthew Hay project for clinical training of students preparing for medical professions; and the £23 million Aberdeen Regional Sports Facilty.
* The Times Higher has gathered data on 545 leading universities in the world and the Times Higher World Ranking was compiled from institutions on that list.