From The Japan Times: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/09/12/national/japan-failing-elite-universities#.XXrMaCgzaM8
LONDON – Japan remains the second most-represented country behind the United States in a ranking of the world’s top 1,400 universities, but trails other countries in hosting elite institutions with only two listed in the top 200, a global survey showed Wednesday.
This year’s Times Higher Education World University Rankings show Japan’s increased presence in the listing of universities from 92 countries and regions, with 110 institutions now represented — up from 103 last year.
But despite Japan’s increased presence on the list, only the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University made it to the top 200 — fewer than China, Italy, Denmark and Belgium, among others, the report said.
The University of Tokyo stood as Japan’s highest entrant in joint 36th place, six higher than last year, while Kyoto University maintained its position in 65th place.
The report noted that both the Japanese universities “score very highly in research and teaching metrics, but struggle in terms of international outlook compared to rivals” in Europe and the United States.
The top spots on the list were occupied mainly by universities in Britain and the United States.
Oxford University once again claimed the top spot in the global rankings, followed by the California Institute of Technology.
From Asia, China led the way, with Tsinghua University ranking 23rd, down one spot, and Peking University at 24th place, up seven places. The National University of Singapore was 25th, down two spots.
The number of Chinese and South Korean universities ranked in the top 200 spots came to seven and six, respectively.
Many Japanese universities failed to secure top positions in the rankings due chiefly to their lack of international outlook and a small number of research citations.
Now in its 16th year, the study analyzes and ranks 1,396 institutions across the world. The universities are judged according to several criteria including teaching, research, citations, industry income and international outlook in terms of staff, students and research.
