Ratings

Aenert news. Ratings
QS World University Rankings is one of the most renowned rankings worldwide released by higher education analytical company Quacquarelli Symonds (QS). Published annually, it provides an independent source of comparative data about university performance. The rankings are among the most widely-read university rankings in the world.

This year’s QS World University Rankings include almost 1,500 institutions from around the world. They evaluate academic institutions according to a set of criteria, ranging from academic reputation to the number of international students enrolled. The results are gained by means of analysing 17.5m academic papers and the expert opinions of over 240,000 academic faculty and employers.

This year, a very substantial methodological enhancement was undertaken, introducing three new metrics: Sustainability, Employment Outcomes and International Research Network. The complete list if the rankings can be found on the homepage of QS World University Rankings 2023.

In 2023, the general rankings are dominated by mixed results. Many universities situated in countries with a long history of educational institutions experienced a decline in the rankings, while at the same time other, lesser-known institutions improve or new players enter the scene. In the US, for example, 103 of 201 ranked universities fall, whereas 29 rise. Twenty-five are new entrants altogether. In the UK, more than half of the ranked universities declined (48 of 90) and ten improved. Australia is able to keep its five top-50 universities, yet stagnates at the same time, with as many universities improving as declining. China (Mainland) is the third most-represented higher education system (71 universities) and boasts two of the world's top 15 universities for the first time ever: Peking University (12^th) and Tsinghua University (14^th). ETH Zurich has remained among continental Europe's best universities for fifteen consecutive years. France's merged universities were able to ascend in the table, with Université PSL (26^th) entering the top-30. The Arab Region's top university King Abdulaziz University achieves a record placing (106^th).

In this year’s rankings, Massachusetts Institute of Technology can look back on twelve years at the top of the rankings, while the University of Cambridge climbs up to 2nd place and the University of Oxford drops to fourth position. MIT has a long tradition of outstanding and prolific scientific achievements. Its many research institutions are concerned with every aspect of improving life on this planet. The MIT Materials Research Laboratory, for example, has a project underway where scientists were able to identify a new unconventional superconducting material which can possibly reshape the science of superconductors. At the MITEnergy Initiative, on the other hand, scientists have developed a method to improve the physical characteristics of vertically aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) arrays, which can then be used in electrodes to enhance the performance of devices ranging from capacitors and batteries to water desalination systems. At the Energy Interdisciplinary Research Centre, meanwhile, scientists are exploring the physics of charge photogeneration, separation and collection from organic heterojunction solar cells, hybrid perovskite solar cells and solution-processed inorganic solar cells. At Stanford University the Center for Mechanistic Control in Unconventional Formations is trying to make hydrocarbon production mor sustainable and find new ways to understand and control the chemical and physical processes that increase hydrocarbon production while reducing produced water, contaminants and number of wells.



Aenert energy education interactive map

ETH Zurich, placed 9^th, is one of the best universities of continental Europe in the ranking. Its Energy Science Center is at the forefront of many innovative energy developments, ranging from energy storage to energy modelling. Tsinghua University in Mainland China is one of the most prestigious universities in this country placing a strong focus on research institutions dealing with the questions of efficient storage and production of energy as well as construction of energy systems (fuel cells).

In general, this year’s rankings are a clear indicator of how fast the academic landscape can change, with well-known institutions declining and others, among them new entries, improving. The reason for this can perhaps also be found in the methodology of the rankings itself as it heavily relies on subjective indicators and reputation surveys, which tend to fluctuate over time.