The Queensland University of Technology (QUT) continues to charge up the rankings of the world’s top universities under 50 years old, moving 14 places higher to 26th in the latest Times Higher Education Top 100 Under 50 list.
A total of 14 Australian universities (second behind the UK with 18) were on this year’s list.
Phil Baty, editor of the Times Higher Education Rankings said the under-50 list recognised institutions which may not have built historical ties, but had shown strong “real world performance”.
QUT vice-chancellor Professor Peter Coaldrake said the ranking was an “endorsement” of the “strategic and ambitious path the university was following”.
But he warned against complacency.
“Rankings all have their idiosyncrasies, so we need to keep our feet on the ground and keep building on that solid foundation,” he said.
South Korea took out the top spot with its Pohang University of Science and Technology.
Mr Baty said the Australian university sector was strong and had the potential for a “really exciting” future – as long as it continued to be supported.
“Australia is in a wonderful position, but it is really clear that there is a serious risk to this and that is that you need to keep supporting your universities,” Mr Baty said from England.
“A few billion dollars in efficiency cuts are not helpful and Australia is in a great position – but it is also under serious threat because there are so many countries now, investing huge amounts of money and building world class universities.”
