Cardiff’s ‘global outlook’ recognised

Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings places Cardiff in top 200 for internationalisation

The University has been ranked among the world’s most international universities in a respected global league table.

Data published today by the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings places Cardiff 126^th among the top 200 most outward-looking institutions.

The league table is made up of 800 universities from across the globe.

This latest ranking follows the University’s success in September of last year when it made substantial progress in rising 26 places in the THE World University Rankings to its current position of 182^nd – its highest rank since 2009.

The result also reflects the University’s excellent performance in the QS rankings by subject which were published last April.

Today’s rankings are determined by considering each institution’s proportion of international staff, proportion of international students and proportion of research papers published with at least one co-author from another country. 

Cardiff University’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Riordan said:

“It’s gratifying to see our efforts at internationalisation recognised in this way. Making the University more joined up with the rest of the world is a key strategic focus.

“To advance these aims we have established exciting collaborations with leading universities and research facilities in Belgium, China, Malaysia and Namibia. Each link-up serves to address a range of pressing issues from cancer and conservation to poverty reduction and health promotion.

“Although we find ourselves among the world’s best in this measure, our aim is continuous improvement and we will strive to build on this over the next year. We are now looking to sign a strategic partnership with a major university in the US, so exciting times are ahead.”

The University has done much to cement its international reputation over the past year.

In September, the Chinese Vice Premier, Liu Yandong, visited Cardiff to oversee the launch of a new College jointly led by Cardiff University and Bejing Normal University, marking a UK first.

The University’s Vice-Chancellor also joined a senior delegation to India, led by the UK Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Sajid Javid MP and the Minister for Universities and Science Jo Johnson MP, designed to celebrate existing links and promote the UK as a study destination for international students.

Furthermore, 2015 saw more than 100 of our students travelling to Europe for work placements as part of their Cardiff University student experience. The University has some 300 bi-lateral agreements with institutions across Europe, and welcomes over 350 European Erasmus students annually.

Phil Baty, Editor of the THE Rankings, said:

“An institution’s global outlook is one of the key markers of a prestigious university. The top institutions hire faculty from all over the world, attract students from a global market of top talent and collaborate with leading departments wherever they happen to be based.

“It is great news for all the institutions in the list of the most international universities in the world. It is a sign of great potential, competitiveness and dynamism.”

The full rankings can be accessed here.