Where do Australian universities rank among the top tertiary institutions in the world?
ARE Australian universities losing their competitive edge? The latest World University Rankings show China is growing as an education destination — do our local universities still match it with the best?
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ARE Australia’s universities losing ground to global competitors?
The latest Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings has flagged an uphill battle for the nation’s tertiary institutions, nine of which have made it into the top 200 for 2019.
The University of Melbourne remains 32nd in the world, equal with LMU Munich in Germany, while the Australian National University has slipped one place from last year to 49th.
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“While there are some examples of progress from Australia this year, the national picture is a cause for concern, with many universities declining or remaining stagnant,” the Times Higher Education World University Rankings’ Ellie Bothwell said.
“As funding cuts take hold and pressure mounts to cap international student numbers — combined with intensifying competition from Asia — Australia’s universities could well face an uphill struggle in the coming years.”
The University of Sydney has climbed two places to 59th in the world, and the University of Queensland and Monash University are also in the top 100.
The University of New South Wales has slipped 11 places to 96th and the University of Western Australian 23 places to 134th.
In the mid year budget update, the Federal Government introduced measures to freeze funding for bachelor courses saving the taxpayer $2.2 billion over four years.
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Universities Australia chief executive Catriona Jackson said Australia’s world class standing was at risk unless cuts were reversed.
“Funding cuts are bad for local and international students. They threaten quality,” she said.
“International education is built on quality.”
Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan said there had been “no cuts to university funding”.
“Funding to universities is at a record high, with Commonwealth expenditure amounting to an estimated $17.6 billion in 2018, and taxpayer funding for universities has grown at twice the rate of the economy since 2009,” he said.
“From 2020, we’ll grow funding at the rate of population increases and tie it to performance metrics. This will ensure our universities are focused on tackling issues, such as declining completion rates and employment outcomes.”
Globally, Oxford University claimed first place for the third year in a row, with the University of Cambridge coming second and Stanford University in the US third.
China’s Tsinghua University climbed eight places to 22nd in the world, supplanting the National University of Singapore as Asia’s top institution, and claimed the global sixth place for research above Princeton, Yale and MIT.
AUSTRALIA’S TOP EIGHT UNIVERSITIES
Institution — Ranking — Previous year
University of Melbourne — equal 32—32
Australian National University — 49—48
University of Sydney — equal 59—61
University of Queensland — 69—65
Monash University — equal 84 — equal 80
University of New South Wales — equal 96—85
University of Western Australia — 134 — equal 111
University of Adelaide — equal 135 — equal 134
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