Universities in emerging economies are improving at a faster rate than universities from developed countries, according to results from the 2021Times Higher Education rankings.
This stellar performance is being driven by institutions from Pakistan, Russia and China, the latter accounting for an unprecedented clean sweep of the top five positions. China’s Tsinghua University topped the pile for the fourth consecutive year, for added kudos.
"In the most competitive Emerging Economies Universities Rankings so far, it is a testament to the success of China’s investment in its higher education sector that it becomes the first country or region to achieve the top five positions in this ranking,” said Phil Baty, chief knowledge officer at the publication.
The National last year reported how Covid had upended higher education establishments and Mr Baty acknowledged the pandemic's disruptive effect.
“[It] has resulted in a number of changes for higher education, with many turning to online learning and teaching, and fewer students travelling internationally.
“We are looking forward to seeing how universities from emerging economies position themselves in the coming year and the opportunities they offer both internally and on a global scale."
The gallery above highlights some of the noteworthy universities in their respective countries to feature in the rankings.
How the UAE fared in the Emerging Economies Universities Rankings 2021
The UAE is represented in the rankings by five different universities, with Abu Dhabi’s research-focused Khalifa University making it into the top 20.
The country's biggest climber, however, is the University of Sharjah, which has shot up 33 places, from 142 to 109.
The five UAE institutions in the Emerging Economies Universities Rankings 2021
1. Khalifa University (20)
2. United Arab Emirates University (33)
3. University of Sharjah (109)
4. American University of Sharjah (184)
5. Zayed University (201-250)
And here is the list of the top 20 universities across all emerging economies.
Emerging Economies University Rankings 2021 Top 20
1. Tsinghua University, China
2. Peking University, China
3. Zhejiang University, China
4. Fudan University, China
5. Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China
6. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russia
7. University of Science and Technology of China
8. National Taiwan University (NTU), Taiwan
9. Nanjing University, China
10. University of Cape Town, South Africa
11. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT), Russia
12. University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
13. University of Sao Paolo, Brazil
14. Indian Institute of Science, India
15. Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), China
16. King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia
17. Beijing Normal University, China
18. Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China
19. Wuhan University, China
20. Khalifa University, UAE
Regional insights from the Emerging Economies University Rankings 2021
Middle East
University of Jordan moves into the top 200 (177), giving Jordan two top 200 institutions for the first time, while Kuwait University slips one band from 201-250 to 251-300.
Oman's Sultan Qaboos University enters the top 200 for the first time, moving up from the 201-250 band to 175.
China
China is the first country or region to secure all top five positions and has this year set a record of 12 universities in the top 20.
Sixteen of its top 20 universities from the 2020 ranking improved or maintained their previous position, while Zhejiang Normal University is the highest-ranked debutant at 85.
India and Pakistan
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata makes major gains after previously ranking in the 301-350 band. Its top-performing university, the Indian Institute of Science, climbs back into the top 15, at number 14.
Pakistan universities showed the greatest levels of progress, with 77 per cent either improving or maintaining their previous spots.
Russia
Nine Russian universities rank for the first time, with Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University (35) and Tomsk State University (49) the inaugural entries in the top 50.
Africa
South Africa’s University of Cape Town (10) retains its position in the top 10 and remains the top-performing institution from Africa.
Durban University of Technology debuts in joint 90th, giving South Africa six top 100 institutions for the first time, as North-West University (joint 97th) moves up from joint 109th.
Egypt’s Mansoura University is the country’s only top 100 representative, entering the band for the first time after moving up from 102 to joint 94th.
Nigeria’s Lagos State University debuts at joint 155th, while University of Lagos moves into the top 200, claiming the 172nd spot.
Nigeria has three top 200 universities in total as the University of Ibadan takes 111th place, while Covenant University sees a significant drop from joint 91st to the 201-250 band.
Europe
Europe is one of the rare regional disappointments, with no new entries in the top 10, 20, 50 or 100.
The highest-ranked universities from Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Iceland, Lithuania and Slovenia all rank lower than in 2020, although the highest-ranked universities from Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Malta and Romania have all improved on their 2020 positions.
Latin America
Brazil’s University of Sao Paulo is Latin America’s best performer for the eighth consecutive year, climbing one place to 13 — and a record 52 Brazilian universities appear in the ranking, following debuts from six universities.
Chile and Colombia’s top-ranked universities also improve their positions, as the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile rises to joint 53rd and Colombia’s Pontifical Javeriana University ranks joint 94th.
How Islam's view of posthumous transplant surgery changed
Transplants from the deceased have been carried out in hospitals across the globe for decades, but in some countries in the Middle East, including the UAE, the practise was banned until relatively recently.
Opinion has been divided as to whether organ donations from a deceased person is permissible in Islam.
The body is viewed as sacred, during and after death, thus prohibiting cremation and tattoos.
One school of thought viewed the removal of organs after death as equally impermissible.
That view has largely changed, and among scholars and indeed many in society, to be seen as permissible to save another life.
'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dual%20electric%20motors%20with%20102kW%20battery%20pack%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E570hp%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20890Nm%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERange%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Up%20to%20428km%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh1%2C700%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Credits
Produced by: Colour Yellow Productions and Eros Now
Director: Mudassar Aziz
Cast: Sonakshi Sinha, Jimmy Sheirgill, Jassi Gill, Piyush Mishra, Diana Penty, Aparshakti Khurrana
Star rating: 2.5/5
Section 375
Cast: Akshaye Khanna, Richa Chadha, Meera Chopra & Rahul Bhat
Director: Ajay Bahl
Producers: Kumar Mangat Pathak, Abhishek Pathak & SCIPL
Rating: 3.5/5
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Takreem Awards winners 2021
Corporate Leadership: Carl Bistany (Lebanon)
Cultural Excellence: Hoor Al Qasimi (UAE)
Environmental Development and Sustainability: Bkerzay (Lebanon)
Environmental Development and Sustainability: Raya Ani (Iraq)
Humanitarian and Civic Services: Women’s Programs Association (Lebanon)
Humanitarian and Civic Services: Osamah Al Thini (Libya)
Excellence in Education: World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) (Qatar)
Outstanding Arab Woman: Balghis Badri (Sudan)
Scientific and Technological Achievement: Mohamed Slim Alouini (KSA)
Young Entrepreneur: Omar Itani (Lebanon)
Lifetime Achievement: Suad Al Amiry (Palestine)
I Care A Lot
Directed by: J Blakeson
Starring: Rosamund Pike, Peter Dinklage
3/5 stars
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Mane points for safe home colouring
- Natural and grey hair takes colour differently than chemically treated hair
- Taking hair from a dark to a light colour should involve a slow transition through warmer stages of colour
- When choosing a colour (especially a lighter tone), allow for a natural lift of warmth
- Most modern hair colours are technique-based, in that they require a confident hand and taught skills
- If you decide to be brave and go for it, seek professional advice and use a semi-permanent colour
Yemen's Bahais and the charges they often face
The Baha'i faith was made known in Yemen in the 19th century, first introduced by an Iranian man named Ali Muhammad Al Shirazi, considered the Herald of the Baha'i faith in 1844.
The Baha'i faith has had a growing number of followers in recent years despite persecution in Yemen and Iran.
Today, some 2,000 Baha'is reside in Yemen, according to Insaf.
"The 24 defendants represented by the House of Justice, which has intelligence outfits from the uS and the UK working to carry out an espionage scheme in Yemen under the guise of religion.. aimed to impant and found the Bahai sect on Yemeni soil by bringing foreign Bahais from abroad and homing them in Yemen," the charge sheet said.
Baha'Ullah, the founder of the Bahai faith, was exiled by the Ottoman Empire in 1868 from Iran to what is now Israel. Now, the Bahai faith's highest governing body, known as the Universal House of Justice, is based in the Israeli city of Haifa, which the Bahais turn towards during prayer.
The Houthis cite this as collective "evidence" of Bahai "links" to Israel - which the Houthis consider their enemy.
The Equaliser 2
Director Antoine Fuqua
Starring: Denzel Washington, Bill Pullman, Melissa Leo, Ashton Sanders
Three stars
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What are NFTs?
Are non-fungible tokens a currency, asset, or a licensing instrument? Arnab Das, global market strategist EMEA at Invesco, says they are mix of all of three.
You can buy, hold and use NFTs just like US dollars and Bitcoins. “They can appreciate in value and even produce cash flows.”
However, while money is fungible, NFTs are not. “One Bitcoin, dollar, euro or dirham is largely indistinguishable from the next. Nothing ties a dollar bill to a particular owner, for example. Nor does it tie you to to any goods, services or assets you bought with that currency. In contrast, NFTs confer specific ownership,” Mr Das says.
This makes NFTs closer to a piece of intellectual property such as a work of art or licence, as you can claim royalties or profit by exchanging it at a higher value later, Mr Das says. “They could provide a sustainable income stream.”
This income will depend on future demand and use, which makes NFTs difficult to value. “However, there is a credible use case for many forms of intellectual property, notably art, songs, videos,” Mr Das says.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
