Better ranking in computer science et al

Chinese universities have again performed well in global rankings for computer science and engineering, according to the Times Higher Education league table.

Ellie Bothwell, Global Rankings Editor at THE, says: "China performs well in these technology-focused subjects with many universities represented in these rankings.

"China has a handful of universities which are in the top 100 universities globally, and in the computer science list most of the Chinese universities are improving."

In computer science, Tsinghua University is rated as the top Chinese university and holds its position at No 20. Shanghai Jiao Tong University enters the top 50 at 49, with improvement in its industry income and international outlook score.

The University of Science and Technology of China is up from 71 to joint 57, sharing the position with Rice University in the United States.

Among the universities whose ranking fell is Peking University, which has slipped from 25 to 32 after a drop in its industry income, international outlook and research scores.

In engineering, Peking University leads Chinese universities, but has slipped from seven to 14, with a decline in its industry income score. Tsinghua University is up two places to No 20, with improvements in its teaching and citation-impact scores.

Zhejiang University has risen from 50 to joint 37, sharing the position with the University of Tokyo, and Johns Hopkins University from the US.

Huazhong University of Science and Technology has entered the top 100, at 99, with improvements across the board, but especially in its research influence, citation impact and industry-income scores.

Hong Kong has retained five universities in the top 70 for engineering, led again by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

Bothwell says that China has led Asia in a rise in the rankings organized by THE in recent years, not just in computer science and engineering but also in global research, prestige and ability.

"The rise of Asia, but China specifically, is a noticeable trend across our various rankings," Bothwell says.

Part of China's investment focus has been in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and Bothwell says this has paid off.

"A big part of why China is becoming more prominent in these tables is because it invests a huge amount in higher education and science."

Other universities from around the world are also doing well. In computer science, seven of the top 10 are from the US, with the top being Britain's University of Oxford, followed by ETH Zurich and the University of Cambridge in fourth. In engineering, Oxford leads with Stanford and Harvard, with the National University of Singapore at eight.