UNSW has reinforced its reputation as one of the fastest movers in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, jumping 27 places to 82 for 2015-16.
Last year, the UK-based Times Higher Education (THE) named UNSW “one of the biggest-rising universities” in its rankings over recent years – up 64 places since 2011-12.
While well regarded, the THE rankings has been historically the least stable of the international ranking systems. However, this year’s outcome mirrors UNSW’s steady rise in other league tables.
“This means we have improved our position in all the major University rankings this year, and demonstrates we are on exactly the right trajectory."
President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Jacobs welcomed the THE improvement, saying it was an “important result for UNSW”.
“This means that we have improved our position in all the major university rankings this year, and demonstrates we are on exactly the right trajectory to achieve our ambition to be well amongst the world’s top 50 universities by 2025.
"Maintaining a trend in the rankings reflects years of good work, constantly improving performance, particularly in an era where there are many new, very competitive universities pushing into the upper ranks in each of the university league tables,” Professor Jacobs said.
All but one of Australia’s Group of Eight research-intensive universities improved their position in this year’s table. Melbourne is the top ranked university at 33, with ANU, Sydney, UQ, Monash and UNSW all now clustered between positions 50 and 82.
Times Higher Education says it is the only global performance table that judges research-intensive universities across all their core missions: teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook.
THE rankings editor Phil Baty said: “The Times Higher Education World University Rankings, now in their 12th year, apply rigorous standards, using tough global benchmarks across all of a global research university’s key missions – teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook.
“The results are trusted by students and their families, academics, university leaders and governments. For the University of New South Wales to make 82 in the world is an outstanding achievement to be celebrated.”
For more information on the THE World University Rankings methodology, go to the website.