This photo dated May 23, 2011 shows the Loke Yew Hall of the University of Hong Kong. (PHOTO/HKSAR GOVERNMENT)
HONG KONG – Four Hong Kong universities were included among the top 100 institutions in the latest edition of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, marking a record for the city since the rankings were introduced 11 years ago.
The University of Hong Kong climbed nine places to rank joint 30th and is placed fourth in Asia. The Chinese University of Hong Kong moved up seven positions to 49th while the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology dropped 10 places to 66th.
Hong Kong Polytechnic University entered the top 100 for the first time, placing 91st
Hong Kong Polytechnic University entered the top 100 for the first time, placing 91st.
A record of 1,662 institutions were included in the latest table, 136 more than last year. The United Kingdom's University of Oxford retained the top spot for the sixth consecutive year. California Institute of Technology and Harvard University both took second place.
Tsinghua University and Peking University have jointly achieved the Chinese mainland's highest-ever ranking position, tying for 16th place.
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A record number of 10 universities from the Chinese mainland were in the top 200. Among them, eight made their debut, taking the Chinese mainland's total representation to a record 97 universities.
The Chinese mainland is the 4th most represented country or region in the 2022 rankings, behind only the United States (183), Japan (118), and the UK (101).
Last year, we witnessed the Chinese mainland achieve a top 20 position for the first time. This year, we see it double its representation in the group as Tsinghua University and Peking University both tie in the highest position ever for the country.
Phil Baty, chief knowledge officer at the Times Higher Education
In a year overshadowed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the rankings reflect the vital role of universities in understanding and managing the crisis, as a number of institutions saw significant boosts in their citation scores from COVID-19-focused research, including no fewer than 11 Chinese mainland universities. Among them, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (181st), Southern Medical University (401-500), Capital Medical University (501-600), and Wenzhou Medical University (601-800) all move up at least two ranking bands.
Phil Baty, chief knowledge officer at the Times Higher Education, said: "The world's elite universities have enjoyed a long period of dominance at the top of the table with help from historic reputation, global status, and reliable income. But our data shows us there are clear shifts happening across higher education around the world, and perhaps most rapidly in the Chinese mainland.
"Last year, we witnessed the Chinese mainland achieve a top 20 position for the first time. This year, we see it double its representation in the group as Tsinghua University and Peking University both tie in the highest position ever for the country," Baty said.
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"Chinese mainland institutions have continued to improve in THE's World University Rankings despite the global pandemic. It will be interesting to witness what happens in the post-pandemic world, and whether the Chinese mainland can challenge the US and UK's long-running dominance in the global top 10."
Wang Mingjie in London contributed to this report.