The recently unveiled QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024 has illuminated the academic terrain of African universities, offering a nuanced perspective on strengths and areas for advancement. This 14th edition of the rankings evaluated 35 universities across 11 African countries, spanning 44 subject fields and showcasing Africa's positioning among 1,500 global institutions.
South Africa and Egypt have emerged as prominent hubs for higher education on the continent, with universities in these countries excelling across various academic domains. However, concerns have arisen as African universities were absent from 25% of the 44 subject areas assessed.
While commendable achievements were noted, such as the University of Cape Town (UCT) securing the 15th spot globally in development studies, the rankings also revealed significant gaps in African university representation, particularly in certain subjects. Notably, 11 disciplines lacked any African institution's ranking, including classics, philosophy, data science, anatomy, nursing, and modern languages, sparking discussions on academic breadth and research capacity in the region.
While some fields demonstrated robust performance, such as medicine agriculture and forestry, others faced challenges. Dentistry, arts and design, media studies, and psychology struggled for recognition, with minimal representation from African universities.
Medicine emerged as a stronghold for African institutions, with 28 universities making a global mark. UCT and Cairo University led the continent in this field, with notable contributions from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and Ethiopia.
In the arts and humanities realm, UCT spearheaded the African cohort, despite a 22-place drop from the previous year. Engineering and technology rankings saw Cairo University taking the lead, closely followed by institutions from Egypt and South Africa. Similarly, UCT dominated social sciences and management.
While there were notable achievements in agriculture and forestry, concerns lingered over low rankings in certain disciplines like dentistry, arts and design, media studies, and politics, indicating areas for improvement.
According to a briefing by QS Quacquarelli Symonds, the rankings were based on academic and employer reputation, as well as academic publication citations and the h-index. Simona Bizzozero, the communications director at QS Quacquarelli Symonds, emphasized the rigorous methodology employed in the rankings.
Overall, the rankings underscore both progress and gaps in African higher education. While certain institutions shine in specific fields, broader recognition and enhancement across disciplines and regions are imperative for the advancement of education and research on the continent.
Article by Jed Mwangi
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