Tsinghua University has become the first Chinese mainland institution to top the Times Higher Education’s Asia University Rankings, forcing National University of Singapore into second place.
Tsinghua University has assumed top spot in the Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University Rankings for 2019, marking the first time the accolade has been bestowed on a Chinese mainland institution, THE reported on Thursday.
THE’s decision meant National University of Singapore, crowned first in 2016 and 2017, slipped to second place, as Tsinghua racked up points in metrics for teaching environment, citation impact and international outlook.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology has leapt University of Hong Kong to become the highest ranked institution in the special administrative region, climbing two places to third on the basis of improved international outlook and industry income performances.
University of Hong Kong’s position is unchanged in fourth followed by Peking University in fifth, the latter down from third after assessors penalised reductions in its research and industry income.
THE’s Asia University Ranking for 2019 includes more than 400 universities – compared with more than 350 last year – representing 27 countries and regions.
Institutions from the Chinese mainland secured 72 positions on the rankings, up from 63 in 2018, though a year-on-year comparison lacks credibility due the ranking’s newly-expanded roster.
Phil Baty, chief knowledge officer at THE, said: “China is once again one of the main success stories of the Asia University Rankings, reflecting the country’s large and sustained investment in the sector over many years.”
