UW News

October 9, 2014

University of Washington fifth worldwide, top US public institution in ranking of achievements in scientific research

UW News

Measuring universities on their scientific research productivity, impact and excellence, National Taiwan University named the University of Washington fifth best in the world, and the top public institution in the United States, in its 2014 Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers for World Universities released Thursday. The NTU Ranking is based on the production and impact of universities’ scientific papers, intended to objectively measure their contributions in the advancement of scientific innovation.

“This is yet another international ranking that places the University of Washington among the world’s best universities,” said UW President Michael K. Young. “‎This one uses a tangible measurable criterion of the contribution our faculty makes to advancing the world’s knowledge. It is very gratifying to see our faculty considered among the very best there is. They truly deserve this recognition.”

The UW has maintained its top-five international and No. 1 U.S. public university position since 2007, when the rankings began as the Higher Education Evaluation and Accreditation Council of Taiwan. The name was changed in 2012.

The NTU Ranking measures the impact and excellence of a university’s research papers based on how often the research is cited and how many research papers are published in “high-impact journals.” These measures account for 75 percent of a school’s score. The final 25 percent is determine by the number of research articles published in peer-reviewed academic journals over the past 11 years and, separately, in the most recent year.

This ranking is the latest to recognize the UW’s standing as a global research powerhouse. The Shanghai Jiao Tong Academic Ranking of World Universities ranked the UW 15th on the planet before issuing an “Alternative Ranking” – removing Nobel Prizes and Field Medals that may have been won dozens of years ago from consideration – in which the UW ranked No. 10. The Times Higher Education World Ranking placed the UW No. 26 internationally and fourth among U.S. public universities.