Harvard University retains the top spot in a British-produced list of the world’s top 200 universities, but American institutions over all slipped a notch or two in the latest Times Higher Education-QS World University Rankings. The United States has 32 universities in the top 100 this year, down from 37 last year, and 54 in the top 200, down from 58 last year. By contrast, several Asian nations improved their standing, Times Higher Education reported.
British universities also saw their standing improve, claiming four of the top six places. But in perhaps the list’s biggest surprise, University College London surpassed the University of Oxford to claim fourth place, while Oxford tied with Imperial College London in fifth place.
While the merit of various popular rankings is a subject of debate, the latest list is certain to add fuel to concerns in the United States that the longtime dominance of American universities in higher education is eroding. A package of articles in The Chronicle this week takes a look at the issue. It features two main articles — “America Falling” and “Asia Rising” — and short profiles of Asian countries on the rise: China, South Korea, and Singapore.
