The University of Queensland has climbed higher in two global university ranking tables, enhancing its position among the world’s top 50 and confirming it as number one in the state.
UQ moved to 47th in the 2020 QS World University Rankings, and jumped to 40th – its highest-ever position – in National Taiwan University’s Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers for World Universities.
In the QS report, UQ’s employer reputation ranking – up seven places – was among improvements for a range of benchmarks, and the greatest increase of any Go8 university in this category.
Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Høj AC said staff in all areas of UQ should be proud of the QS and NTU results.
“At a time when some governments overseas are investing heavily in their university systems, to not only hold but improve our position in the world’s top 50 in these important tables is an impressive achievement,” Professor Høj said.
“The result reflects the exceptional quality of education and research across a broad range of fields and disciplines at UQ, which is critical to achieving globally significant solutions to complex problems through partnerships and innovation.”
The QS survey tracks universities’ standing and reputation, with academic and employer reputation together accounting for 50 per cent of its criteria.
UQ’s academic reputation climbed to 45th in the QS ranking, up from 48th last year, while employer reputation rose to 69th in the world.
“UQ’s approach to student employability focuses on developing graduates into individuals who can make a positive contribution and add value to organisations, the workforce, and the community,” Professor Høj said.
“We have embedded discipline-specific career development learning support into our programs, engaging students with industry contacts in relevant and meaningful professional relationships.
“Our investment creates opportunities for students to participate in learning experiences across a range of activities including global mobility, entrepreneurship, volunteering and mentoring.
“It is pleasing to see UQ rise in the employer reputation indicator ranking which can be taken as an endorsement of our sector-leading approach adopted in 2014.”
UQ’s QS ranking as an international student destination jumped dramatically to 34th in the latest survey, up from 57th last year.
NTU’s latest ranking table puts UQ at 40th globally, up from 43rd.
The NTU ranking is focused on the number and impact of scientific publications authored by the University’s researchers and considers research productivity, impact and excellence.
In NTU’s field rankings, UQ was first in Australia and fifth globally for agricultural sciences.
In NTU subject areas, UQ was number one in Australia in Environment/Ecology (fourth globally), Microbiology (14th globally), Social Sciences General (14th globally) and Agricultural Studies (16th globally).
UQ was ranked second in Australia in Pharmacology and Toxicology (14th globally), Plant & Animal Science (18th globally), Civil Engineering (29th globally), Biology & Biochemistry (30th globally), Chemical Engineering (42nd globally), Molecular Biology & Genetics (42nd globally) and Chemistry (72nd globally).