Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2013

Posted on: 03 October 2013

Trinity College Dublin’s drop in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2013-14 should be a wake-up call for Ireland’s higher education sector where more sustained investment is needed to drive societal and economic renewal, according to Trinity’s Dean of Research, Professor Vinny Cahill.

Trinity’s ranking dropped from 110 last year to 129 this year, according to Times Higher Education Rankings.

Phil Baty, the editor of Times Higher Education Rankings, said the fall should be a “cause for alarm”, adding that “when the national flagship falls, it can affect the standing of the rest of the country”.

“This should be a wake-up call for Ireland’s higher education sector, especially for Trinity and the Government whose mission must be to co-invest in the renewal of our society and economy,” said Professor Cahill. “As the Government frames this month’s budget, it is critical that investment in higher education is increased, given its importance for job creation, particularly in innovation,” he said.

THE’s World University Rankings 2013-14 show improved scores for Trinity in the staff-student ratio, international student ratio and international co-authored papers. 

“In the overall internationalisation category, our position has improved, pointing to progress in our drive to build global relationships and create a cosmopolitan campus rich in diversity and drawing on students from emerging markets such as Brazil, Russia, India and China. Another positive is that Trinity has maintained our position in terms of research income per academic staff,” said Professor Cahill.

In last year’s THE World University Rankings, Trinity doubled its scores in surveys for research reputation and teaching reputation.

“That we have fallen back in these categories this year is a reminder that we need to make up lost ground. Trinity faces stiff competition in a global higher education landscape where the call on resources to finance mission-critical activities such as high-quality research, teaching and internationalisation is intensifying.

“Although Trinity’s score in the QS World University Rankings rose to 61 in the world last month, this latest result for the university shows that we have work to do to ensure that Irish students can continue to avail of an internationally competitive higher education without the need to emigrate.

“Trinity’s ranking underlines the need for more sustained public investment in higher education. It is important for Ireland, not just for Trinity. Trinity, in partnership with Government, should work together in a co-investment arrangement to foster the renewal of Ireland’s society and economy,” said Professor Cahill.