Best Universities in Africa: University of Ghana ranked 7th

• Posted on April 23, 2016
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings has announced Africa’s  best Universities in the recently published World University Rankings.

University of Ghana is now at the 7th position in the whole of Africa making Ghanas premier University the topmost University in the West Africa sub-region, and indeed at the national level.   University of Cape Town once again hit the top position, while East African giant, Ugandas Makerere University is the only institution outside South Africa to make the top five in fourth place.

THE World University Rankings is being published ahead of THE’s second Africa Universities Summit, which 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 and 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 significant increases in doctoral graduates and research outputs during the last five years.

Phil Baty, THE rankings editor, 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.

University of Ghana Vice Chancellor, Ernest Aryeetey obviously elated at this news said: “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 Times Higher Education World University Rankings,  are generated from five pillars, each of which represents a key area of higher education excellence – teaching (the learning environment), research (volume, income and reputation), citations (research influence), industry income (knowledge transfer), and international outlook (staff, students and research).  The Africa ranking applies the same performance indicators as the overall THE World University Rankings.

To be included in the Africa ranking is indeed a significant achievement and all who have played a part should bask in the glory of this success.

Stella A. Amoa
Director of Public Affairs
April 21, 2016