QUT has been named the best young university in Queensland and jumped several places internationally in the prestigious 2017 Times Higher Education (THE) Young University Rankings.
The rankings, which assess the best 200 universities 50 years old or younger in the world, measure 13 performance indicators grouped into five areas: teaching, research, citations, international outlook, and knowledge transfer.
QUT ranked 24th in the world, up four places from last year, and in the top two Australian universities included in the rankings. The University of Technology Sydney was placed first in Australia.
The results were revealed at the THE 2017 Young Universities Summit, being hosted at QUT’s Gardens Point campus.
Some 200 delegates representing institutions and businesses from more than 30 countries are attending the global gathering, which is being held in the Southern Hemisphere for the first time.
QUT Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Coaldrake said QUT’s ranking was endorsement of the ambitious strategic plan the university was pursuing, including a focus on producing globally significant research.
Professor Coaldrake said QUT researchers had made breakthroughs including the delivery of localised chemotherapy via a 3D printed implant containing a patient’s own cells, and COTSbot, a world-first, fully autonomous underwater robot able to detect and manage reef-destroying crown-of-thorns starfish. The university has also produced internationally regarded work in the identification and transfer of genetic plant material for the development of more nutritious or drought tolerant crops.
“For QUT and other universities in Australia the rankings are an opportunity to see how we are performing on the world stage,” he said.
“QUT’s ranking is recognition of our growing research maturity, investment in teaching and learning and strong track record in graduate employability and industry engagement, both locally and internationally.”
Times Higher Education rankings editor Phil Baty said: “Australia is one of the leading nations in this list of the world’s best young universities, claiming 23 of the top 200 places; it trails only the UK on quantity.
"Australia’s great strength in depth and claim of high positions in the table will serve it well in the table in the years to come."
Professor Coaldrake said in the face of massive disruption from emerging technologies, universities needed to position themselves to play a leading role as economies and societies faced the challenges of tomorrow.
“In an environment of rapid transformation it is essential not only to engage effectively with the issues that will define our future but also to recognise the opportunities therein,” he said.
“With our emphasis on industry connections, entrepreneurship, and research areas such as robotics that will be vital in the digital economy, QUT is well placed to lead, adapt and continue thriving.”
Media contact:
Rob Kidd, QUT Media, 07 3138 1841, rj.kidd@qut.edu.au
After hours, Rose Trapnell, 0407 585 901 or media@qut.edu.au
