World’s most trusted rankings provider reveals first glimpse of future Africa University Rankings
- University of Cape Town takes top spot
- South Africa dominates the top five
- Opinion formers from across the region invited to attend the inaugural THE Africa Universities Summit and help shape the first ever official THE Africa University Rankings
Respected global higher education experts, Times Higher Education (THE), have exclusively revealed a snapshot of what the first ever ranking devoted to African universities might look like.
The university rankings provider has revealed the top 15 universities in the region, based solely on their scores for research influence – in other words, how much African universities’ research papers are referred to and cited by other academics across the globe.
To be included in this future-gazing table, an institution must have published a minimum of 500 research papers in the five year period assessed with at least 50 papers per year.
The full table, which contains the top 30 universities in the region, will be revealed at the inaugural Times Higher Education Africa Universities Summit, which will take place on 30th and 31st July at the University of Johannesburg.
As the first major public consultation on the future THE Africa University Rankings, academic leaders and opinion formers will discuss plans for a full and comprehensive ranking for the region.
This new ranking will be based on Times Higher Education’s respected World University Rankings, but shaped following this initial meeting by bespoke metrics designed to meet the region’s specific challenges.
Times Higher Education is therefore calling for opinion formers from across the region to attend the Summit, founded with University of Johannesburg, to take part in the debate and help shape the future of university rankings in Africa.
To attend the Summit, delegates should register at: www.theworldsummitseries.com/aus2015
The ‘snapshot’ table, based on just one of THE’s five respected World University Rankings criteria – research influence, gives a good indication of what a full university ranking might look like for Africa and sees two South African institutions – the University of Cape Town and the University of Witwatersrand – take first and second place respectively.
A lone Ugandan university – Makerere University – bridges South Africa’s domination of the top five, taking third place. This is followed by the University of Stellenbosch in fourth and the University of KwaZulu-Natal in fifth.
Times Higher Education Africa Universities Summit Snapshot: Top Fifteen African Universities for Research Excellence
Copyright Times Higher Education. Data source: Elsevier’s Scopus
Rank | Institution | Country | All Publications 2009-2013 | Overall Score |
1 | University of Cape Town | South Africa | 5540.21 | 99.90 |
2 | University of the Witwatersrand | South Africa | 4387.17 | 99.76 |
3 | Makerere University | Uganda | 1112.69 | 99.72 |
4 | University of Stellenbosch | South Africa | 4357.33 | 95.48 |
5 | University of KwaZulu-Natal | South Africa | 4235.09 | 89.41 |
6 | University of Port Harcourt | Nigeria | 573.55 | 88.92 |
7 | University of the Western Cape | South Africa | 1154.77 | 84.61 |
8 | University of Nairobi | Kenya | 671.72 | 84.60 |
9 | University of Johannesburg | South Africa | 2192.74 | 83.64 |
10 | Universite Cadi Ayyad | Morocco | 910.82 | 78.61 |
11 | University of Pretoria | South Africa | 4544.33 | 75.89 |
12 | University of Ghana | Ghana | 804.53 | 73.31 |
13 | University of South Africa | South Africa | 981.67 | 72.51 |
14 | Suez Canal University | Egypt | 998.98 | 69.69 |
15 | Université Hassan II | Morocco | 960.25 | 69.03 |
Additionally, the Summit, which is being held in partnership with the University of Johannesburg, will include sessions on key topics, such as Resourcing Africa’s Renewal, preventing Brain Drain from the region and moving the 2063 initiative forward.
Speakers at the Summit include:
- Phil Baty, Editor, Times Higher Education Rankings and Editor at large, Times Higher Education
- Ihron Rensburg, Vice Chancellor and Principal, University of Johannesburg
- Hubert Gijzen, Regional Director and Representative, Southern Africa, UNESCO
- Mabel Imbuga, Vice Chancellor, Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
- Rwekaza Mukandala, Vice-Chancellor, University of Dar es Salaam
- Admasu Tsegaye, President, Addis Ababa University
- Cheryl de la Rey, Vice-Chancellor and Principal, University of Pretoria, and Vice Chair, Talloires Network
- Elena Chernyshkova, Deputy Executive Director Project 5-100, The Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation
- Albert van Jaarsveld, Vice-Chancellor and Principal, University of KwaZulu-Natal
- Vijoo Rattansi, Chancellor, University of Nairobi
- Ousmane Sène, Director, West African Research Centre (WARC)
- Thandi Mgwebi, Executive Director, Research Chairs and Centres of Excellence, National Research Foundation
Phil Baty, editor of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, said: “This is an experimental and preliminary ranking based solely on research, and only on one aspect of research – how many times research papers are cited by other academics. When we develop a full Africa University Ranking, we expect to add many more indicators, examining things like a university’s economic contribution, its civic engagement and of course its teaching. So the Africa Universities Summit presents the perfect opportunity to help shape this future ranking and to ensure that Times Higher Education develops the most appropriate and relevant ranking for Africa, in full consultation with African universities.”
To see a full list of speakers and to register to attend, visit: www.theworldsummitseries.com/aus2015
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