As of this September, the University of Pretoria (UP) cemented its standing as a leading tertiary institution both in Africa and the world. The university has shown commendable progress in the Webometrics rankings with a noteworthy improvement compared to previous years. In February, UP was ranked 447th globally. However, UP advanced significantly in the September rankings by securing 3rd place alongside Stellenbosch University in the regional university rankings. This was accompanied by a substantial improvement in the global rankings up to 431st. PDBY sat down with UP’s public relations and events manager, Mr Sashlin Girraj, to find out more about the university’s advancement on the Webometrics ranking scale.
What is webometrics?
Ranking Web, or Webometrics, was established in 2004 and is recognised as the largest academic ranking of higher education institutions (HEIs) in the world. It conducts an independent, objective, and open scientific assessment, offering free access to reliable, multidimensional, and up-to-date information on various universities’ performances globally. The primary goal of this ranking is to promote open access to knowledge produced by universities. The Webometrics rankings are based on three key metrics:
- Visibility, which measures the number of external networks [that link] to the institution’s web pages and reflects the influence of the university’s web presence,
- Transparency/Openness that assesses the number of citations from the top authors in the institution using public profiles on Google Scholar, as well as
- Excellence. [This] is based on the number of papers from the institution that are among the top 10% most cited in 27 different disciplines from the Scimago database.
The rankings are released twice a year, and they provide a global perspective on the various universities’ efforts to publish high-quality research and provide accessible academic content online.
Why should students be interested in this?
Universities that excel in the Webometrics rankings often lead the way in groundbreaking research and embrace cutting-edge technologies and innovative research methods. This forward-thinking approach fosters an environment where students are exposed to the latest advancements in their fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), data science, and digital learning tools. This exposure to innovative research can significantly enhance their academic and professional profiles. Moreover, attending a university with strong visibility in the academic world can enhance a student’s networking opportunities and employability as the institution’s reputation can help students connect with global experts, researchers, and potential employers.
What do you think led to the university’s improved performance both in Africa and globally?
UP’s improved performance both in Africa and globally can be attributed to several key factors that align with our strategic goals aimed at enhancing the institution’s global presence, research impact, and academic reputation. A breakdown of these factors [is as follows]:
- Research-led university with a global footprint: One of the key contributors has been UP’s unwavering commitment to research excellence, particularly through publishing in top-tier international journals. By focusing on high-impact research, the university has significantly increased its citations and improved its global academic influence. Moreover, the emphasis on fostering national, continental, and international collaborations has strengthened the university’s research culture. These partnerships not only improve the quality of research, but also contribute to the visibility of research, expanding its reach across global academic networks. UP has [also] championed the principles of openness and open access, encouraging researchers to make their work accessible to a broader audience.
- Digital transformation: In response to the increasing importance of digital presence, the university has embraced a robust digital strategy. This includes improving access to online resources and academic materials, [and] focusing on promoting open knowledge. The visibility of the university’s digital resources globally is one area where this transformation is visible.
- Emphasis on research culture and collaboration: UP’s efforts in pursuit of creating a collaborative research ecosystem have expanded its influence beyond South Africa, with its research outputs being recognised and cited globally. These collaborations not only increase the impact of research, but also lead to a larger number of external institutions linking and referencing back to the university’s content.
- Openly published and top-cited research: UP’s strong emphasis on producing research that is relevant to societal and global challenges has resulted in high citation rates. By openly publishing research and focusing on areas that resonate with global challenges, UP has gained recognition for its contributions to both local and international academic discussions.
Do you expect to maintain this ranking or surpass it?
While rankings are an important indicator of a university’s global impact, UP’s focus extends far beyond the pursuit of higher rankings. Our core values, particularly a commitment to excellence in research, remain central to the university’s strategy. Research continues to be a fundamental component, driving our efforts to solve pressing global challenges while enhancing the university’s academic and societal contributions. As we have demonstrated in the past, we remain dedicated to increasing our global footprint through high-quality research, meaningful collaborations, and fostering a culture of open knowledge dissemination. Looking ahead, UP is confident that, by staying true to these values and continuously refining our approach, we will not only maintain our current standing but also potentially surpass it. Our primary goal is to uphold our commitment to academic integrity and societal impact, ensuring that UP remains a leading institution known for advancing knowledge and driving positive change both in Africa and on the global stage.
PDBY would like to thank Mr Girraj for sitting down with the paper for this interview.
Stacey Mgijima
Originally published on the PDBY website: UP Ascends to Bronze Place in Africa University Rankings