Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) of the United States ranked top in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Ranking for the 12th time consecutively this year, followed by UK’s Cambridge University and Oxford University. Remarkably, the National University of Singapore (NUS) advanced by three positions from rank 11 last year becoming the first Asian university to break into the top 10 institutes.
While among the Indian institutes, IIT Bombay moved up 23 positions to secure a spot among the world’s top 150 universities. Similarly, three Australian universities made notable gains to enter the top 20. The University of Melbourne, ranked 14th, climbed by 19 positions, while the University of New South Wales and the University of Sydney both moved up by 26 and 22 ranks, respectively, to be tied for the 19th position.
Overall, American universities acquired the positions of half of the top 20 institutions in the world, with UC Berkeley making a comeback to the best 10 lists this time. ETH Zurich retained its title as the best university in Europe for the sixteenth year in a row.
The notable fluctuations observed this year can largely be attributed to the modifications made to the ranking criteria. QS has implemented new metrics, including sustainability, employment outcomes, and international research network, which have necessitated adjustments to the significance assigned to existing criteria. For example, the weightage given to the academic reputation indicator has been reduced from 40 per cent to 30 per cent. Similarly, there has been a decrease in the emphasis on the faculty-student ratio. Conversely, the employer reputation indicator has gained greater importance, with its contribution rising from 10 per cent to 15 per cent. These adaptations highlight a revaluation of priorities within QS's ranking parameters, as mentioned in the press release issued by QS.
