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World class
Four Australian universities make the top 50 in the latest global rankings. By Antonia Maiolo
The latest international league rankings have again placed Australian National University at the top of the list for Australia. The Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings( QS rankings) have ANU in the 27th spot, down three places from last year.
“ This is an outcome of which we can all be proud, and is a reflection of the commitment and quality of ANU staff and students,” ANU vice-chancellor professor Ian Young said.“ Rankings are not an absolute measure, but they do give us pause to stop and acknowledge what is great about ANU,” he said.
The University of Melbourne came in second to ANU, climbing five places from last year to 31st in the world; the University of Sydney followed in 38th position.
University of Melbourne vice-chancellor professor Glyn Davis said it was positive to see the institution continue to increase its international standing.
“ This latest rankings success is a credit to the many researchers and professional staff whose work contributed to the University’ s continued rankings success,” Davis said.
Other top-ranked universities in Australia were The University of Queensland( 43) and the University of New South Wales( 52).
Monash University came in equal 69th, falling eight places, whilst the University of Western Australia lost five places, taking 84th spot.
UQ vice-chancellor professor Peter Høj said the results for Australian institutions were terrific particularly given the funding cuts the sector has experienced over the past year.
“ If we were to have better levels of investment, stronger industry partnerships and policies that continued to leverage our strengths, universities would be even stronger stimulants for economic strength and international regard for Australia,” Høj said.
He warned that recent cuts to university funding would cause a“ slide in the wrong direction” and put at risk Australia’ s ability to support the broader economy and“ maintain and further grow our third-largest export segment, namely education services”. n
The QS World University Rankings, which are amongst the leading international measures, are annual tables that rate more than 700 institutions, as well as many individual subjects.
Australian institutions in the top 300
2013 |
2012 |
Institution |
27 |
24 |
Australian National University |
31 |
36 |
The University of Melbourne |
38 |
39 |
The University of Sydney |
43 |
46 |
The University of Queensland |
52 |
52 |
The University of New South Wales |
69 = |
61 |
Monash University |
84 |
79 |
The University of Western Australia |
104 = |
102 |
The University of Adelaide |
263 |
233 |
Macquarie University |
272 |
284 |
University of Technology, Sydney |
276 = |
264 |
University of Wollongong |
279 = |
281 |
Queensland University of Technology |
284 = |
258 |
Curtin University |
291 = |
246 |
RMIT University |
298 |
268 |
University of Newcastle |
Source: QS Quacquarelli Symonds, topuniversities. com / rankings2013 |
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4 | Issue 9 2013