September 7, 2016
The Group of Eight (Go8) comprises Australia’s leading research intensive universities. The 2016/17 QS World University Rankings released today, reaffirm Go8 members as the only Australian Universities in the world’s top 100.
“We have six Go8 members in the top 100 and a further two in the top 200 (the University of Western Australia at 102 and the University of Adelaide at 125) where they are joined by the next Australian university, the Australian Technology Network’s University of Technology Sydney (UTS) sitting at 193,” says Go8 Chief Executive Vicki Thomson.
“However while it is immensely pleasing to have the Go8 universities yet again recognised so highly, in this the 13th year of the prestigious QS World University Rankings, the fact is that a number of Australian universities have dropped in the rankings from their previous positions. This includes six Go8 members,” she said.
Ms Thomson said that this was unfortunate and the Australian Government was being given a clear message by QS when its Head of research Ben Sowter commented that ‘institutions in countries providing high levels of targeted funding whether from endowments or the public purse, rise. On the other hand, Western European nations making or proposing cuts to public research spending are losing ground to their US and Asian counterparts.’
“Right now Australia depends on universities more than other advanced economies to supply high quality research and researchers for industry and the nation more broadly. This is why it is critical to protect the performance of our universities by high levels of targeted funding.
“This year’s QS rankings could be a very unwelcome canary in the coalmine,” said Ms Thomson. “Australia has 39 excellent public universities. Their global status deserves to be protected.”
Media contact: Vicki Thomson, Group of Eight Chief Executive on +61 438 047 155
