Press release - 4 February 2014 19:01

Umeå University climbs in 'top 50 under 50' world ranking

"We are not only the highest ranked Swedish university on the list, but also first among the Nordic countries," says Lena Gustafsson, Vice-Chancellor at Umeå University. "We are the listed as tenth in Europe which is very gratifying."

"QS Top 50 under 50" ranks the top universities in the world that are under 50 years old. This is the third time QS has published the ranking, which aims to highlight relatively newly established universities already making a big impact in the global rankings. This feat is particularly impressive as the ranking is compiled based on factors including international reputation, research citations and international diversity of students and staff – all of which typically take a significant period of time to establish.

As Umeå University will be celebrating its 50th anniversary next year, this is the last time they will be listed in this ranking table.

QS head of research Ben Sowter, said: “The dynamic nature of this ranking makes it an interesting comparison with our global and regional rankings. By focusing on the performance of these younger institutions alone, the list aims to spot the up-and-coming higher education powerhouses in the global arena."

Universities in Asia occupy the top three places this year. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) kept the top spot and Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU) retained second place. KAIST - Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology held the third spot.

"The international competition is fierce, but this placement indicates that we occupy a relatively strong and stable position, both nationally and internationally," explains Lena Gustafsson. "But there are many challenges and we are actively working to achieve even higher quality - in both research and education.”

The ranking of young higher education institutions is based on 2013/14 QS World University Rankings. Umeå University was ranked 289th on this list. The ranking is compiled based on factors including international reputation, research citations and international diversity of students and staff.

QS Top 50 Under 50 2013/14

For further information, please contact:

Lena Gustafsson, Vice-Chancellor at Umeå University
Phone: +46 (0)73-079 42 91
E-mail: lena.gustafsson@adm.umu.se

Photo by: Elin Berge

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Umeå University
Umeå University is one of Sweden's largest institutions of higher learning with over 34,000 students and 4,200 employees. We have a well-established international research profile and a broad range of study options. Our campus constitutes an inspiring environment that encourages interdisciplinary meetings - between students, researchers, teachers and external stakeholders. Through collaboration with other members of society, we contribute to the development and strengthen the quality of our research and education.

Umeå University

Umeå University is a comprehensive university and one of Sweden’s largest higher education institutions with around 38,000 students and 4,600 staff. We have a diverse range of high-quality educational programmes and research within all disciplinary domains and the arts. Umeå University is also where the groundbreaking CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool was discovered, starting a revolution in genetic engineering that led to the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

The University has an international atmosphere and centres its work around core academic values. Our tightly knit campus makes it easy to meet, collaborate and share knowledge, something that encourages a dynamic and open culture where we celebrate each other’s successes. Umeå University prides itself in offering a world-class educational and research environment and expanding knowledge of global significance, where the sustainable development goals of Agenda 2030 inspire and motivate. We have creative and innovative research environments that offer the best potential for taking on the challenges facing society. Through long-term collaborations with organisations, industry and other higher education institutions, the University is helping northern Sweden become a knowledge region. The societal transformation and the massive investments currently occurring in northern Sweden create complex challenges but also opportunities. Umeå University is focused on conducting research about and within a society in transition and continuing to offer academic programmes for regions that need to expand quickly and sustainably.

Campus Umeå and the Umeå Arts Campus are close to the city centre and next to one of Sweden’s largest and most renown university hospitals. Education is also provided in several other towns, including Skellefteå, Örnsköldsvik, Lycksele and Kiruna. Umeå University is home to the highly ranked Umeå Institute of Design, the environmentally certified School of Business, Economics and Law, and the School of Architecture, the only one in Sweden with an artistic profile. Next door is Bildmuseet, which is Umeå’s contemporary art museum, and Curiosum, Umeå’s science centre. Umeå University is one of Sweden’s five national sports universities, has an internationally leading Arctic Research Centre, and has Várdduo, which is Sweden’s only research unit for Sámi research and indigenous research.

Umeå University climbs in 'top 50 under 50' world ranking

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