The latest rankings by Times Higher Education (THE) World Rankings and the 2021 Best Global University Rankings again, like various previous rankings, recognised the good standing of the North-West University (NWU) among the best tertiary-education institutions. This is not only locally but also internationally, as measured in international rankings.
One of these rankings, THE World Rankings, highlights the quality of its subject offerings, while the other one, the 2021 Best Global University Rankings, has placed the NWU among the cream of the crop of local universities.
NWU shines through quality
THE World Rankings announced their results by subject for 2021 on 28 October. These rankings cover 11 subject areas, with performance in each area measured across four aspects. These aspects are teaching, research, knowledge transfer, and international outlook.
The NWU was measured against 1 512 universities globally. The university excelled in the clinical and health subjects, as well as in the law subject groups, and was placed globally in the 201 to 250 and the 201+ categories respectively. It also shone in psychology, where it was ranked in the 301 to 400 category.
Furthermore, the NWU was ranked in the 401+ category for arts and humanities, physical sciences, education, and engineering. Its social sciences offering was placed in the 501 to 600 category, followed by business and economics and life sciences, which were both ranked in the 601+ category.
The NWU has excelled among South African universities in the various subject areas. It was third overall locally in engineering, psychology, and physical sciences, fourth in clinical and health sciences, and sixth with law and life sciences. The NWU was seventh with both business and economics and education, and eighth in arts and humanities and social sciences.
To view the full THE subject rankings for 2021 visit: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/by-subject
NWU among top seven universities in South Africa
The NWU was also one of only 13 South African universities to be included in the seventh annual US News and World Report’s Best Global Universities Rankings for 2021.
The NWU was ranked among the top seven universities in South Africa and named number 564 on the list of the best universities globally.
These rankings are produced to provide insight into how universities compare globally. The rankings include nearly 1 500 top tertiary-education institutions across 86 countries. It takes into account the global and regional research reputation, publications, books, normalised citation impact and total citations, and international collaboration, among other things.
Click here to read more about the Best Global Universities Rankings:
Commenting on the rankings, Prof Dan Kgwadi, vice-chancellor and principal of the NWU, commended staff and students for their hard work in ensuring excellence at the institution. He reiterated that although ranking is not a goal the university wants to pursue, it remains a cause for celebration when the NWU is ranked among the best.
“We are proud of the NWU and its achievements as we are dedicated to being an internationally recognised university in Africa. The NWU is committed to engaged scholarship, social responsiveness and an ethic of care.”
