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Japanese universities dominate top 10 spots in Asian univ rankings

26 Comments

Top Asian universities have been evaluated in the first regional ranking from QS Quacquarelli Symonds Ltd, the compilers of the Times Higher Education - QS World University Rankings.

The University of Tokyo is the highest ranked university in Japan at number three, followed closely by Kyoto University (5) and Osaka University (6). Overall, 33 Japanese universities appear in the top 100 of the QS.com Asian University Rankings.

Nunzio Quacquarelli, managing director of QS explains: “The results of the QS.com Asian University Rankings focus on regionally relevant measures of excellence, with the top performing universities distinguished not only by quality, but also by high productivity of research, compared to their regional peers.

“Japanese universities have performed particularly well, with strong faculty student ratio results and high outbound exchange figures. These results, combined with those of the Times Higher Education – QS World University Rankings, place Japanese universities on the world scale for quality higher education and recognize the University of Tokyo among the finest in the world.”

Japan at number three, followed closely by Kyoto University (5) and Osaka University (6). Overall, 33 Japanese universities appear in the top 100 of the QS.com Asian University Rankings:

Further rankings of Japanese universities can be found at www.topuniversities.com

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26 Comments
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These figures drop significantly when Japanese higher education is compared on a global scale with other universities around the world.

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But since this was NOT a global ranking, the relevance of sharky1's comment drops significantly as well.

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no ratings for mooching around doing nothing, silly drinking games, smoking dope etc.....?

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Interesting that the Top 100 Universities list rates the colleges of London University separately, while Oxford and Cambridge are treated as one entity each. London's LSE, King's, UCL and Imperial are all highly rated individually, so I'm sure that if all the colleges were rated together London would be well high.

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I wonder if the corruption, bribery and test result fixings were included in these results.

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so who was 1, 2 and 4?

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bakabaka -- you beat me to it. As is uaually the case, this story does not really attempt to report the news. Just brag on Japan's standing.

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According to the list on topuniversities.com, Todai is number 19 worldwide, number 1 in Asia. It also says the list is published annually in October so I'm a bit confused as to why this is news today.

Or is there another topuniversities.com with a different list?

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I'm also very curious about 1 and 2, because at least in my field there are no other unis in Asia better than the Japanese ones. I would say Today, even if Kyodai is pretty close and sometimes better

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There are 3 Hong Kong universities ahead of Osaka (44) on the world-wide list. Impressive Asian showing with the US and the UK dominating the top 50.

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That QS Ranking site is flawed. It had Univ. of Hong Kong ranked several places above UC Berkeley. Also, The CHINESE University of Hong Kong is ranked above Dartmouth. Come on!

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zybster, as usual, missed the point...this article is trying to make something out of nothing.

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..this article is trying to make something out of nothing.

Well, if you don't have any stake in this country I guess you can say that. But I have taught students at Osaka Pref. Uni and I am not surprised. They are quite motivated and switched on students.

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Thanks sharky for your nice comment. I can see that an article where Japan is not presented in a negative light has no value for you. Well, believe it or not, Japan is not as bad as you are constantly trying to paint it. It's not perfect, but it's not the hell you want to see it as. Because if it's so bad, I feel sorry for those who have no choice but to live here. Yes, there are lots of bad students, bad universities, but that's not limited to Japan. This article is about the good universities that are in Japan, but you have chosen not to see them. Suit yourself.

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Zybster: I think you're overreacting. In sharky's first post he really just pointed out that this was not relative to world rankings, on Asian ones. Why don't they put the universities in ranking with ALL universities around the world and publish those findings? I'd like to see where Japanese universities rank, as well as the more famous around the world, and of course, Canadian universities, too. I'd like to see it on a breakdown of subjects/fields, as well.

In terms of Asia, well, congrats to Japan. Good news for the Japanese schools, to be certain. We hear a lot of bad news about schools like Waseda (rapists like Super-Free, former university profs with mirrors on their shoes checking out girls) and others, so it's about time we heard some good news.

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And hey, yeah... what are 1, 2, and 4 now that you guys mentioned it?

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smith; no, Zybster isn't over reacting at all. He was quite correct in pointing out that this wasn't a global ranking.

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Ossan: (from Zybster) "Thanks sharky for your nice comment. I can see that an article where Japan is not presented in a negative light has no value for you. Well, believe it or not, Japan is not as bad as you are constantly trying to paint it. It's not perfect, but it's not the hell you want to see it as."

Overreaction in my books, and hence my post (I wasn't referring to Zybster's first post, but his second. Sharkey's second is not far off from his first, he just makes it more personal). Many people have asked what the rankings are in terms of world rankings. Sharky made a point to that regard, and Zybster made quite a clever reply (and a good one!). Sharky then made a personal jab and pointed out that 'something is being made of nothing', and Zybster went a bit nuts and jjjjuuuuuussssst about came to the 'if you don't like it here...' line that's always a winner.

I think everyone realizes this is only an Asian uni. ranking. I still want to see what the TOP school was, as well as second, and fourth. After that, I'd like to see world rankings. I still give kudos to the Japanese schools where deserved, though.

Anyway, people shouldn't cheer one way or the other, and then take it so personally if someone offers some criticism or makes a snide remark -- if you truly are proud, that is. If I were proud of something and someone made a snide remark I would more than likely just brush it off; lashing out like in Zybster's second post simply smacks of doubt and insecurity, which might make some think Sharky's got even more of a point.

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Nice self back-slapping by JT, but I concur with the other posters who asked who was top and 2nd place.

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Various lists of international rankings (there are many systems of evaluation) usually put Todai on 10-15th place, and first among Asian Universities. Hence my surprise about the 3rd place claimed by this article.

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Later edit: I've checked the link in the article, and Todai was indeed top asian uni (ranked 19th), followed by Kyoto (25th) and then University of Hong Kong (26th)

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smith I don't think Zybsters second comment was over reacting at all. I think you interjecting yourself between Zybster and sharky was over reacting. (LOL)

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All of these ranking systems (there's more than one) are somewhat deceptive. A university is made up of so many different faculties and schools that lumping them all together and saying this one is best isn't very useful. It's more accurate to examine the faculty you're interested in entering and seeing how it compares to others. Or you may have a particular professor you want to write a dissertation under, in which case, even if the university's reputation isn't the highest, you'd choose it because of the professor.

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Ossan: "I think you interjecting yourself between Zybster and sharky was over reacting. (LOL)"

I don't, but we'll just agree to disagree on this one. :)

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I am a postgraduate student in one of Hong Kong Universities. I don't think the ranking really reflect the university academic performance. this just one of reference on subjectively perceived "quality". For University of Hong Kong, this university can attract most of top students in Hong Kong and much scholarship for attract Mainland China students. Besides, almost all professors in top 3 universities of HK are come from UK/US famous universities. They have strongly research ability and good teaching to students.(especially 4th HKUST) However, I have read many international Journals is come from Kyoto University. Many Professors (my major is science) also think Japanese universities have good training to students being scientists.

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Where is the International Christian University of Mitaka, Japan on this list? Personally, I feel ICU ranks with Harvard in the USA.

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