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Japan tops inaugural THE Asia university rankings

Japan dominates the first ever Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings, with more top institutions than any other nation in the region and the University of Tokyo crowning the list. However, the THE warns the country's dominance may be slipping, signalled by strong showings from the likes of China, Singapore and South Korea.
April 11 2013
1 Min Read

Japan dominates the first ever Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings, with more top institutions than any other nation in the region and the University of Tokyo crowning the list.

Solidifying its lead is Kyoto University, which takes 7th place, and in total there are 22 Japanese universities in the top 100. However, the THE warns the country’s dominance may be slipping, signalled by strong showings from the likes of China, Singapore and South Korea.

“Asia is the most exciting and dynamic continent right now in higher education terms”

“Japan has emerged as Asia’s top higher education power – but it needs to be careful,” said Phil Baty, editor of Times Higher Education rankings. “Evidence from the overall World University Rankings shows that the country is losing ground to its Asian rivals: its international network is too limited, and the funding available for its universities falls some way short of its regional competitors.”

Rounding out the top five in THE’s list – and representing those nations close on Japan’s heels – are the National University of Singapore, the University of Hong KongPeking University in China, and Pohang University of Science and Technology in the Republic of Korea.

Overall, Taiwan is the second best-represented country in the rankings with 17 institutions listed, the National Taiwan University ranking highest in 14th place. China comes a close third with 15 listed institutions.

Six nations in the Middle East are also represented in the rankings. The country with the strongest showing was Turkey with five institutions led by the Middle East Technical University in 22nd place.

Baty said the Asia-only top 100 list was launched “to provide deeper and richer insights” into the performance of Asia’s institutions after only 57 universities from the region appeared on the THE’s World University Rankings top 400 list.

“Asia is the most exciting and dynamic continent right now in higher education terms,” he said. “Many of its nations recognise the central role that world-class universities play in driving the new knowledge economy and are investing heavily in university teaching and research, unlike their Western competitors.”

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