Response to Universitas21 world rankings

21 May 2015

Commenting on the Universitas21 assessment of national higher education systems, Dr Wendy Piatt, Director General of the Russell Group, said: 

“The UK is ranked second in the world for the quality of its higher education and research output. This is despite being only the 26th best resourced.  

“While this shows the efficiency and productivity of our universities, they can’t continue to punch above their weight without the promise of increased long-term funding. 

“We simply cannot afford to under-invest in our world-class research and the education of our future workforce.” 

Notes to Editors

1. The Universitas21 Ranking of National Higher Education Systems assesses 50 countries across four criteria:
   • Resources (expenditure  by government and private sector on teaching and research
   • Output (research and its impact, quality of the best institutions, and the production of an educated workforce which meets labour market needs)
   • Connectivity (international networks and collaboration with industry)
   • Environment (government policy and regulation, financial autonomy and diversity)

    More details.

2. The UK ranks 8th overall, but there are marked differences across the different measures: 2nd for output, 5th for connectivity, 8th for environment, but 26th for resources. The differential of 24 places between output and resources is the largest for any of the 50 countries assessed.

Related case studies

Transforming public welfare and attitudes through narrative

Research at the University of Sheffield focusing on the links between memory, trauma and narrative has improved the mental health and well-being of patients in secure hospitals.

Read more >

Sleeping like a baby at Durham University

Researchers at Durham University have received the UK’s highest academic honour for a programme that has helped to shape the way babies sleep.

Read more >