The University of Iceland keeps its place on the Times Higher Education World University Rankings list over the best universities world wide for the sixth year running. This became clear earlier this week when a new list was published. The Rector of the University of Iceland said it remarkable that the University keep its place on the list due to the dire financial situation currently facing the University. The Rector said furthermore that it is very important for Iceland to have a university placed this high on the list.
The University of Iceland is currently ranked between 201 and 250 on the THE list but a more detailed placement is currently unavailable. The University was ranked similarly last year, but upon further comparison it became clear that the University of Iceland was in seat 222 on the list. The University was also ranked number thirteen on the list of the best Universities in the Nordic countries.
Times Higher Education has published a list of the 400 best universities in the world for over a decade. This list is one of the most prestigious of its kind. Times Higher Education’s evaluation covers numerous operational factors in the universities, including research activity, international impact, teaching, and study environment. As in recent years the quality and the scientific impact of the research by University staff is the decisive factor concerning the University of Iceland’s place on the list.
The University of Iceland is a very powerful research institute
Jón Atli Benediktsson ascribes the University’s success to dynamic research activity despite the dire financial situation in recent years, and to the fact that the University has excellent partners in Iceland and abroad enhancing its quality. The Rector said furthermore that it is very important for Iceland to have a university placed this high on the list. The impressive placement of the University has attracted attention globally creating numerous opportunities for research collaboration with the world's leading universities. "The University's scientists have been successful in their applications for domestic and international competitive funds in recent years, and have thus managed to fund ambitious research in times of great hardship."
The newly approved fiscal budget is a threat to the University
According to the Government´s new fiscal budget for the next five years it does not look like the University will benefit from the planned enhancement of infrastructure in Iceland. "It was a great disappointment to see that according to the budget the University will not be able to make serious advances in the coming years. On the contrary, the budget threatens the success the University has already achieved. Ongoing underfunding year after year prevents the University from making full use of the opportunities brought by the strong position in research for the good of the whole community. Years of underfunding have, furthermore, made it impossible to strengthen the infrastructure in teaching, especially the teacher student ratio; one of the principal Times Higher Education parameters on quality in university operations. This will not be possible without additional funding. It is vital to develop university studies in accordance with the needs of students and the economy; for the benefit of Icelandic society This would also strengthen the University's position worldwide even further," says the Rector.
The list and the basis of the evaluation can be found on the Times Higher Education website.