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Three UAE universities, led by Khalifa University, made it to the 2024 edition of the Global 2000 list by the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR).
Khalifa University tops the country ahead of United Arab Emirates University, with the University of Sharjah also sealing a spot. Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa University has risen 16 spots to 876 from last year’s 892nd, with an improvement in research performance and places in the top 4.2 per cent worldwide. United Arab Emirates University rises 65 spots to 1,113rd from last year’s 1,178th ,while University of Sharjah climbs 146 spots to 1,253rd.
These figures by CWUR, the publisher of the largest academic ranking of global universities, analysed 62 million outcome-based data points to rank universities from around the world.
Overall, the UAE is improving against rivals worldwide, with its three leading universities all rising in the standings on the back of a stronger showing in research performance. There were several yardsticks like quality of education, employability, quality of faculty, and research performance, against which these universities have been ranked. This year, 20,966 universities were ranked, and those that placed at the top made the Global 2000 list – which includes institutions from 94 countries.
Dr Nadim Mahassen, President of the Center for World University Rankings commented on the national picture, saying, “It is encouraging to see the United Arab Emirates making gains in the rankings. In the last five years, the UAE’s global share in scientific research grew by an astonishing 79 per cent. Additional investment in research and development will allow the country to be even more competitive in the international arena of science and technology.”
Dr Mahassen said that while this year’s rankings confirm the worldclass standing of the US higher education sector, the decline of nearly two-thirds of American institutions is concerning, amid stiff competition from Chinese universities. He also added that the overall slide of US institutions mirrors those of UK, Russian, and Japanese universities, while France saw improvements as a result of the growing number of mergers between the institutions.
