DOHA: Qatar University (QU) improved its ranking in the Times Higher Education (THE) Young University Rankings 2018 by moving into the top 100 in 87th place in the 2018 rankings. The THE Young University Rankings list the world’s best universities that are aged 50 years or under. The 2018 rankings include 250 institutions from 55 different countries.

In calculating the top young universities, the THE Young University Rankings 2018 use the same 13 performance indicators as the THE World University Rankings, to assess research-intensive universities across all their core missions: teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook.

However, the weightings are recalibrated to reflect the profile of missions of young universities, and to provide the most comprehensive and balanced comparisons, trusted by students, academics, university leaders, industry and governments.

The performance indicators are grouped into five areas: Teaching — the learning environment (30 percent), Research — volume, income and reputation (30 percent), Citations — research influence (30 percent), International Outlook — staff, students and research (7.5 percent), and Industry Income — knowledge transfer (2.5 percent).

Commenting on this achievement, QU President Dr Hassan Al Derham said: “The Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2018 show an improvement of QUs last year performance as it was ranked #101-150 in 2017.

“Since its inception in 1977, QU has been a leading institution of academic and research excellence in the region providing high-quality undergraduate and graduate programs aligned with the international standards.”

“This achievement demonstrates QUs pivotal role in contributing to the State of Qatars stated ambitions towards a knowledge-based economy, and in providing the local and international labor market with distinguished graduates who will contribute to the countrys growth,” said QU President Dr Hassan Al Derham.

Additionally, The recent Gulf crisis did not affect QUs research quality and quantity. The University currently holds 32.9 percent of the overall percentage (70 percent) of institutions in Qatar which means that papers emerging from QU that are co-authored with international researchers make up one-third of all internationally-collaborated papers from Qatar as a whole,” added QU President Dr Hassan Al Derham.

The Editorial Director, Global Rankings Phil Baty, said: “The Young University Rankings take a closer look at the rising stars of global higher education, by restricting the analysis to universities under 50 years old, while applying the same rigorous standards and the same balanced and comprehensive range of 13 performance indicators as the World University Rankings.”

“So for Qatar University to break comfortably into the world top 100 for the first time this year is an exciting and highly commendable step on its journey. At under 45 years old, Qatar University has developed rapidly, but it is now starting to reach maturity with a strong presence on the world stage,” said The Editorial Director, Global Rankings Phil Baty.