By Conor Brummell
NUI Galway has risen once again in global ranking, according to the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2020. The University has improved significantly in the rankings, having been placed in the 250-300 range band, compared to the 301-350 bracket they were in last year.
This is the Times Higher Education World University Rankings’ sixteenth year judging University rankings and they apply rigorous standards to the competition, using global benchmarks across all University’s key missions – based on teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook.
NUI Galway’s improved status is primarily as a result of its continued focus on research excellence and impact. It is a testament to all students enrolled and staff currently working at the college.
President of NUI Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, commented: “This year, NUI Galway improved its score and its ranking band, which we welcome as a reflection of the continuous effort across this University. We at NUI Galway are determined to be true to our values of respect, excellence, inclusiveness and sustainability and further enhance our distinctive international reputation and reach, serving our students and our hinterland and drawing on the strengths of our people in research, teaching and societal impact. We look forward to seeing these strengths reflected in future international rankings”.
He added: “There is a clear desire for third level education in this country as a means of advancing opportunities for our students and of reinvigorating our society. Investment in an eco–system that’s appropriate for our students, in meeting that clear demand for a third level system that is internationally competitive, is an imperative, not for us, but for our students and for society”.
“This week 53 years ago, the then-Minister for Education, Donagh O’Malley, started a revolution at second level education. There is now an opportunity for a revolution for the next generation, now at third level. We look forward to working with Government and our other stakeholders in envisioning and resourcing this shared future.”
The ranking included 1,396 institutions from 92 countries, drawing on data points on over 1,800 of the world’s leading research universities and more than 21,000 academic reputation survey responses. The exercise also analyses 12.8 million research publications and 77.4 million citations over five years, based on bibliometric data from Elsevier.
The full ranking can be seen online at https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2020/world-ranking.