University Of Ghana Ranks 7th Best In Africa

Times Higher Education World University Rankings has released university rankings for the year. The University of Ghana has been ranked 7th best in Africa.

That said, Ghana’s premier university is the topmost/leading university in West Africa and at the national level.

Unsurprisingly, 'University of Cape Town' remained on top position. And surprisingly, east african giant, Uganda’s Makerere University is the only institution outside South Africa to make the top five in fourth place.

Meanwhile, 'Times Higher Education World University Ranking' second Africa universities summit is forthcoming. It will be held at the University of Ghana from 27 to 29 April 2016 on the theme - 'Globalization and Policy Directions for African Higher Education'.

Nico Cloete [Director of the centre for higher education trust/coordinator of the higher education research and advocacy network in Africa] said that four institutions in the list Cape Town, Makerere, Nairobi and Ghana have adopted strategies to become research-led flagship universities in their country and seen relevant increases in doctoral graduates and research outputs over the last five years.

Phil Baty [ Editor, Times Higher Education] said "This snapshot ranking is based on the same criteria as the World University Rankings but we are keen to develop a bespoke range of metrics, following a public consultation, for a full Africa University Ranking"

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana [Ernest Aryeetey] made some interesting remarks upon hearing the news. Below is his statement.

"Our investments in research are beginning to pay off. Our reforms have been extremely beneficial. I am grateful to all the hardworking researchers and others who have made our consistent rise possible".

The rankings are based on or generated from five key pillars- representing an important area of higher education excellence. The rankings are based on teaching [the learning environment], research [volume, income and reputation], citations [research influence], industry income [knowledge transfer], and international outlook [staff, students and research].


Top 15 Universities in Africa

1. University of Cape Town, South Africa

2. University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa

3. Stellenbosch University, South Africa

4. Makerere University, Uganda

5. University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

6. University of Pretoria, South Africa

7. University of Ghana, Ghana

8. University of Nairobi, Kenya

9. Suez Canal University, Egypt

10. Alexandria University, Egypt

11. Cairo University, Egypt

12. University of Marrakech Cadi Ayyad, Morocco

13. University of South Africa, South Africa

14. University of Ibadan, Nigeria

15. Mohammed V University of Rabat, Morocco