Massey University, in the 501-550 range, came next, followed by Auckland University of Technology, the. University of Canterbury and the University of Waikato (all in the 551-600 range), and finally Lincoln in the 701-800 range.
THE is one of several major companies that rank universities around the world. The University of Auckland was ranked 67 in the latest QS World University Rankings and was in the 201-300 band in the latest Academic Ranking of World Universities.
A University of Auckland spokesperson noted there were 2297 universities in the 2027 rankings.
“While the University’s overall ranking shifted from last year [down 12 spots from 156th], its underlying rankings in most areas remained relatively stable, with improvements in both of THE’s research measures.
“At the same time, the THE rankings were more competitive this year, with a record number of institutions assessed.”
The rankings are based on 17 indicators, which encompass research excellence and impact, the teaching environment, global academic standing, links with industry beyond the ivory towers, and international reach and influence.
A THE statement on the latest rankings said: “New Zealand has experienced declines in its average scores across the industry, research quality and international outlook pillars.”
The industry pillar is a measure of a university’s ability to help with innovations and inventions, while research quality considers the university’s new knowledge or ideas and their impact. International outlook is how well the university is attracting students and staff.
One reason it’s been more challenging for New Zealand universities is the amount of annual research funding ($315 million), which hasn’t lifted since 2018-19.
Earlier this year, the coalition Government announced that the Performance-Based Research Fund (PBRF) will be replaced by the Tertiary Research Excellence Fund, meaning a quality evaluation (costing about $40m) required under the PBRF will no longer be needed.
The funding for universities will be based on five measures: research degree completions, external research income, citations in research publications, commercialised research, and citation of research in government policy papers.
But there was no plan to shift the total pot from $315m a year.
The University of Oxford topped the THE 2027 rankings, a position it also held the previous year.
All of the top 10 universities were in the UK or US, with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology taking second spot, and Princeton and Stanford Universities sitting third equal.
But several universities in Asia continued their rise.
“The latest World University Rankings suggest that we are witnessing a historic realignment of academic power from West to East,” THE chief global affairs officer Phil Baty said in a statement.
“It is the first time we have three Asian universities in the world top 15; the first time a Chinese university is ahead of any in continental Europe; the lowest number of US universities we have ever had in the world top 200.”
He noted Australian universities were doing relatively well, with six in the top 100; the University of Melbourne was highest at 34th.
“The underlying data show that the seismic shift runs deeper than the eye-catching headlines – we are entering a new era that will remake the geography of academic excellence. Australia may be well placed to capitalise on that.”
Derek Cheng is a senior journalist who started at the Herald in 2004. He has worked several stints in the press gallery team and is a former deputy political editor.
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