Over half of the courses taught at higher education institutions in Hong Kong have shown improvement in the latest global rankings. The organization responsible for these rankings has identified the city as the most enhanced location worldwide in terms of graduates’ performance as perceived by employers.
Hong Kong’s four public universities have been included in the league table for data science and artificial intelligence programs for the first time. The University of Science and Technology (UST) in Hong Kong has secured the top position among local institutions in this field, ranking 10th globally.
Notably, four subjects from Hong Kong’s public universities have made it to the top 10, marking an increase from the previous year’s three. These rankings were compiled by the Britain-based education information firm Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), encompassing 16,400 subjects offered at over 1,500 universities worldwide.
A significant portion of the subjects offered at universities in Hong Kong have experienced an upward trend in the global rankings as per the recently published report by QS. Among the total of 204 subjects assessed from eight public universities in the city, including the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, 91 have progressed in rankings, while 35 have declined. Additionally, 51 subjects have maintained their positions from the previous year, with 27 being new entrants.
The rankings were determined based on five key metrics: academic reputation, feedback from 98,000 graduate employers globally, research citations per paper, productivity and impact of scholarly publications, and international research collaborations.
The University of Hong Kong (HKU) has retained the third position globally in dentistry, while its education program has climbed to seventh place. The nursing program at the Chinese University of Hong Kong now ranks eighth, up from 16th place. However, HKU’s social policy and administration program has dropped to 21st place, falling out of the top 10.
The field of data science and artificial intelligence, which emerged as a prominent subject last year, has seen increased representation from Hong Kong universities in the global rankings. UST’s program, ranked 10th, has surpassed institutions such as Princeton University in the United States and one Swiss university, which were among the top 10 last year.
Ben Sowter, Senior Vice President of QS, acknowledged Hong Kong’s leading position in higher education but warned about growing competition globally. He highlighted the city’s exceptional progress in employer reputation but noted a decline in academic reputation across various subjects. Sowter emphasized the significance of impactful research dissemination within the academic community and publication in reputable journals.
On a global scale, institutions in the United States continue to excel in various subjects, with Harvard University leading in 15 subjects. The United Kingdom dominates 16 subject tables, including disciplines such as education, English, and history of art. Chinese universities have also made significant strides, ranking in the top 10 for eight subjects.
Overall, Hong Kong’s universities have demonstrated remarkable progress in the global rankings, reflecting their commitment to academic excellence and research advancement.