Shanghai: UM still in the top 200!
For the fourth consecutive year, the University of Montpellier has consolidated its place among the world's top 200 universities in the Shanghai ranking published on August 15. These excellent results demonstrate its ability to shine on the world stage and meet international standards of excellence in research and education.
© IRD Olivier Dangles
"I am delighted to see, once again, the University of Montpellier ranked among the world's best universities. We are proud to contribute to promoting French research on a global scale,"said Philippe Augé, President of the UM, following the release of the now famous Shanghai ranking published each summer. In the 2022 edition, the university ranks among the world's top 200 out of 1,800 evaluated for the fourth consecutive year. This represents steady progress since 2016, when it ranked in the top 400.
A VERY POSITIVE OVERALL DYNAMIC
Although controversial, the eagerly awaited Shanghai ranking only serves to highlight the very positive overall momentum of the UM, as the president was keen to point out: "These good results in the Shanghai ranking, as well as in all other global rankings, reflect an ambitious policy of excellence pursued for several years, which is based on the talent and significant investment of our entire community, whom I would like to congratulate. " Benefiting from exceptional resources allocated to research and training thanks, among other things, to the deployment of its I-SITE Excellence program, which will continue until March 2022, the University and its partners are demonstrating that they are now major players in research and higher education in France.
THE SHANGHAI RANKING BASED ON SIX CRITERIA
The Shanghai Ranking, also known as the Academic Ranking of World Universities, has been published annually since 2003 by Jiao Tong University. This global ranking of higher education institutions evaluates around 1,800 institutions according to six quantitative criteria, including: the number of publications in the scientific journalsNatureandScience, the number of citations of researchers, the number of Nobel Prize winners in science and Fields Medal winners, the renown of alumni and professors, etc. The Shanghai ranking thus ranks the top 100 universities one by one. Beyond that, the ranking only mentions ranges: from 100 to 200; from 200 to 300; from 300 to 400; and from 400 to 500, the lowest position.
WORLD LEADER IN ECOLOGY AND PROGRESS IN MANY DISCIPLINES
The UM had already achieved excellent results on July 19 when the Shanghai thematic rankings were published, climbing onto the global podium in ecology (3rd) for the fourth consecutive year, as well as ranking in the global top 50 in six subject areas: geography (47th), water resources (45th), food sciences (49th), agriculture (17th), and biotechnology (35th).
Finally, it ranks among the world's top 100 in five subject areas: oceanography, earth sciences and veterinary sciences, statistics, and remote sensing. "These results also attest to the strength of our scientific capabilities in France, which enable us to respond to the major global challenges of the 21st century and to take more effective action on these essential issues," continues Philippe Augé.
FIRST UNIVERSITY ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Another ranking of which the University can be proud is the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Ranking for sustainable development goals. It ranks UM first among French institutions for goals related to health, well-being, and reducing inequalities, and third for those related to decent work, economic growth, and quality education.
The UM also climbed 16 places in the CWTS Leiden Ranking, which is based on scientific publications and citations, securing an impressive151stplace worldwide. It rose to16thplace worldwide in the "Life & Earth Sciences" segment. These rankings should be taken for what they are: recognition of collective work and a nice spotlight on the UM's contribution to the global influence of French research.