Based on research influence alone, instead of five indicators used in the global rankings, South African universities dominated the top five, with University of Cape Town taking the top spot.

South Africa’s University of Witwatersrand ranked second, followed by Makerere University in Uganda, University of Stellenbosch and University of KawZulu-Natal, both in South Africa.

“This is an experimental and preliminary ranking based solely on research”

THE judged the institutions based on how much their research papers are referred to and cited by other academics across the globe.

The universities must have published a minimum of 500 research papers in the five year period from 2009 to 2013, with at least 50 papers per year to be considered.

There are 15 universities in total on the initial list with the remaining 15 set to be announced this month at a THE summit organised with the University of Johannesburg.

The “future-gazing” table is a preliminary step toward full comprehensive rankings for the region said THE in a statement.

It hopes to consult academic leaders and opinion formers at the summit to create bespoke metrics designed for the region.

“This is an experimental and preliminary ranking based solely on research,” commented Phil Baty, editor of the THE World University Rankings.

“When we develop a full Africa university ranking, we expect to add many more indicators, examining things like a university’s economic contribution, its civic engagement and of course its teaching.”

Rounding out the list’s top ten is the sixth ranked University of Port Harcourt in Nigeria, followed by the University of the Western Cape in South Africa, University of Nairobi, University of Johannesburg and the Universite Cadi Ayyad in Morocco.