Portugal features five universities on this year’s World Rankings. The highest of these is the University of Porto (308th), which remains Portugal’s best university overall.
It is joined in the top 400 worldwide by the Universidade Nova de Lisboa (351st) and the University of Coimbra (367th).
Other Portuguese representatives on the overall rankings were the University of Lisbon (481st-490th band) and the Universidade Católica Portuguesa (651st-700th band).
The QS rankings also show three Portuguese universities as being among the world’s 300 most reputable.
The University of Porto came 237th by the academic reputation criterion, followed by the University of Lisbon (256th), and the University of Coimbra (272nd).
QS’s academic reputation parameter is the result of surveying over 75000 academics, and endeavours to provide students and staff alike with the most accurate picture possible about the academic prestige a university enjoys.
The QS World University Rankings are designed to provide students with comparable, accurate data to make informed decisions about their educational future.
Ben Sowter, QS head of research, says: “What’s fascinating about these latest results is that they reveal more diversity than ever in the distribution of world-class universities at the highest levels. We’re providing prospective students with the richest picture yet.”
The citations per faculty area measure shows that, with the exception of the University of Porto (210th), Portuguese research is struggling to have a global impact: no other Portuguese representative features in the top 350.
In part, this suggests that Portuguese universities are failing to strike a balance between allowing their faculty members to research, and ensuring that they fulfil their teaching responsibilities.
Portuguese universities still experience high student enrolment rates, and this has resulted in them scoring badly on QS’s student/faculty ratio indicator: four of Portugal’s five universities come outside the top 500 here.
An ICEF report suggests that countries like Portugal perceive higher enrolment as a means of driving economic growth, concluding: “The new economic reality – the economic crisis, youth unemployment, the requirements of the knowledge society, globalisation – has led to renewed and additional emphasis on increasing student participation.” However, QS’s findings suggest that, though the Portuguese economy is experiencing much-needed growth, its universities are not enjoying the same upturn in fortunes.
To view the complete rankings, featuring the world’s top 891 universities as well as the Top 400 by Faculty areas visit: www.TopUniversities.com