The rankings show those young universities focusing on STEM areas have the best chance to challenge traditional elite universities
The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (HKUST) came second on the list.Three Hong Kong universities rank in the top 10 of the world’s youngest institutions, with the University of Science and Technology (HKUST) maintaining second place in the ranking.
Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University also retained its top spot in the latest list of the world’s top 50 universities under 50 years old, compiled by London-based education company Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).
City University of Hong Kong (CityU) and Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) both stayed in fourth and sixth place, respectively, while Hong Kong Baptist University rose to 19th from 22nd last year.
The annual ranking, which was first published in 2012, looks at 162 universities across the world under 50 years old. The universities are ranked based on things including academic reputation (40 per cent), employer reputation (10 per cent), student-to-faculty ratio (20 per cent), authored research per faculty (20 per cent), and international faculty and student ratio (10 per cent). The reputation scores are based on global academics and employer surveys.
QS head of research Ben Sower said technology-oriented universities were leading the list. Six of the top 10 universities specialised in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem) fields.
“The rankings show those young universities focusing on Stem areas have the best chance to challenge traditional elite universities,” Sower said.
Hok Yau Club Student Guidance Centre director Ng Po-shing said HKUST had a high ranking because it was very international. “Most of the professors come from other countries. The university has also invested a lot in scientific and business research,” he says.
Ng said CityU and PolyU differ from others in the city, as they focused more on taught programmes instead of research.