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The University of Cape Town (UCT) has retained its top spot on the continent in this year\u2019s University Rankings despite being in the throes of a leadership and allegedly, racially driven, crisis. <\/p>\n
The institution climbed 23 places and now sits in 160th place globally \u2013 up from 183rd place last year \u2013 in the University Rankings published by Times Higher Education yesterday. <\/p>\n
The latest ranking means that in all five major international university rankings, UCT has been ranked the best in Africa. <\/p>\n
This year, UCT also took the continent\u2019s top place in the Centre for University Rankings, Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) University Rankings and ShanghaiRanking\u2019s Academic Ranking of Universities.<\/p>\n
UCT is also Africa\u2019s top university in the US and Report Best Global Universities Rankings, the most recent of which was issued in 2021. A new release is expected later this month.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are deeply proud of our academics and the wider UCT community for the hard and excellent work they do that has led to this result,\u201d said UCT vice-chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng in a statement released by the university.<\/p>\n
Phakeng also posted a video on her Twitter account of her dancing to the news of UCT\u2019s latest rankings. She included the recently trending hashtag #HandsOffPhakeng following the recent attack on her leadership.<\/p>\n
\nUCT remains the Top University on the African continent. It climbed up 23 places on the global list and is currently the only university in Africa in the top 200\ud83e\udd73\ud83e\udd73\ud83e\udd73#HandsOffPhakeng<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/5yCHfRW8EA<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Mamokgethi Phakeng\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 (@FabAcademic) October 12, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\u201cUCT competes globally with institutions that have considerably more resources than we do, which makes this result all the more remarkable,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
This year, Times Higher Education University Rankings assessed 1 799 institutions across 13 performance indicators in five areas: citations (30%), research (30%), teaching (30%), international outlook (7.5%) and industry income (2.5%).<\/p>\n
According to UCT, its strongest performance was in citations \u2013 or research influence \u2013 which measures the number of times a piece of research is cited. In this area, the university ranked 172nd globally.<\/p>\n
In the area of research \u2013 its volume, income and reputation \u2013 UCT also ranked in the top 200 globally. The university\u2019s performance improved for two indicators: the research reputation survey and the ratio of papers to academic staff. The former demonstrates UCT\u2019s growing positive reputation among leading international academics.<\/p>\n
UCT\u2019s scores increased in four of the five indicators for teaching (the learning environment): the teaching reputation survey, the ratio for doctorate degrees awarded to academic staff, the ratio of students to academic staff and the ratio of institutional income to academic staff. <\/p>\n
UCT\u2019s score in the fifth indicator \u2013 ratio of doctorates to bachelors degrees awarded \u2013 dropped only slightly, by 0.1 points.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is gratifying to see UCT\u2019s reputation in both research and in teaching and learning grow, which is recognition of the important role African institutions are playing in the global knowledge project as institutions the world over address the grand challenges,\u201d added Phakeng.<\/p>\n
UCT has made headlines recently after the Daily Maverick broke the story on leadership struggles within its council after the early departure of deputy vice-chancellor, associate professor Lis Lange.<\/p>\n
Last week, the chair of UCT\u2019s council, Babalwa Ngonyama, announced an internal investigation into governance concerns at the institution, including issues related to Lange\u2019s departure.<\/p>\n
Both Phakeng and Ngonyama have come under fire in the media following claims that they had misled the council about the departure of Lange. A letter written by Lange accused the two of misleading the council.<\/p>\n
However, this attack on the leadership has been widely criticised for being \u201ca clear demonstration of anti-transformation and reform par excellence\u201d.<\/p>\n
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Education<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n