University of Hong Kong gets seven-year-high rank on global chart, but four other local institutions drop by four to 16 places
- University of Hong Kong placed 35th among world’s top 200, and is joined in rankings by HKUST, Chinese University, City University and PolyU
- Times Higher Education official describes fall of other universities in rankings as ‘disappointing’, in face of strong gains by institutions on the mainland
The University of Hong Kong has secured a seven-year-high ranking on a global tertiary institution chart, while four other local universities were downgraded by four to 16 places.
Tsinghua University in mainland China remained the highest-ranking institution in Asia – while its major rival, Peking University, has overtaken the National University of Singapore to get the second rank in the continent.
The flagship institution of Hong Kong was placed 35th among the top 200 for 2020 in the rankings covering more than 1,300 higher education institutions from 92 countries by Times Higher Education, one higher than last year, but its best in seven years.
Four other institutions remained on the top 200 chart, but dropped in placements by between four and 16 places: the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (from 41st to 47th), the Chinese University of Hong Kong (from 53rd to 57th), the City University of Hong Kong (from 110th to 126th) and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (from 159th to 171st).
Ellie Bothwell, global rankings editor at Times Higher Education, said: “Hong Kong’s excellent performance in our World University Rankings is always worthy of praise, but it is disappointing that the region’s institutions have declined this year – especially when there have been such strong gains in mainland China.”