Estonia's University of Tartu remains in the top 3% of the world’s best universities and was ranked in the 351-400 block on the Times Higher Education (THE) list.
Thirteen different indicators are taken into consideration in drawing up the list, describing the study environment, the influence of research results, the amount of research work, reputation on the basis of interviews, innovation, and the range of internationalisation, a press officer for the University of Tartu told BNS.
"Estonia and the Czech Republic have managed to keep their position among the 400 best universities despite the improvement of Asian universities' position as well as due to growth in the number of universities that took part in the list," Phil Baty, editor of THE commented on the University of Tartu result.
Jaak Aaviksoo, Estonian Education and Research Minister, said the fact that very many central and East-European universities had not been mentioned in the list certainly deserved attention. "But Estonian and Czech universities are positively mentioned in the list - they have been able to keep their place in the growing international competition. This gives us confidence that thanks to the support of the University of Tartu, Estonian universities are certainly at the international level," Aaviksoo added.
Volli Kalm, rector of the University of Tartu, said that UT’s endurance in a high place on the chart was certainly recognition to the university team. "But at the same time the recognition means responsibility and constant efforts so its good name and international position would continue and that we would be regarded as equal partners among the world peaks."
US universities still dominate among the best, with the California University of Technology in the first place.
In accordance with another highly acclaim list QS World University Ratings, the University of Tartu also kept its high position among 700 best universities of the world and stays at the limit of 500 best universities of the world. In addition to a general list, QS lists world universities by their academic reputation. Last year UT was listed 381st in the sphere life sciences and medicine and this year it passed the 400 rating in humanities, with an equally 381st place.