Hong Kong's top two universities lose ground in latest global rankings

The city's top two universities have lost ground in the latest global university league table.

But two mainland institutions have moved up, narrowing the cross-border gap, according to the new rankings released yesterday.

Peking University edged up three spots to 46, while Tsinghua University leapt 19 places to 52nd.

The survey predicts that mainland universities are set to advance further in the coming years, as institutions in the West are hit by government austerity measures.

Phil Baty, editor of the Times Higher Education rankings, said in London: "There is no question that the balance of power in global higher education is shifting. There is strong support for world-class universities in the East … in stark contrast, funding cuts are hurting the West."

The California Institute of Technology retained top spot in this year's Times Higher Education rankings. It was followed by Britain's University of Oxford and Stanford University, California, in joint second place.