University of Canberra rises, ANU slips in Times Higher Education World University Rankings

University of Canberra was ranked 184^th in the world in the 2021 results, up nine places compared with the 2020 rankings.

Australian National University slipped from 50^th to 59^th in the world and was ranked third out of the Australian institutions, behind the University of Melbourne and the University of Sydney.

The University of Canberra came in 10^th in the national leader board. The institution has risen swiftly up the ranks since it entered in 2016 at the 501-600 band.

Vice-chancellor Professor Paddy Nixon said the university's focus on research, teaching and contributing to the Canberra community was part of its continued success.

"Rankings do not define our university's success - rather, they are a wonderful barometer for the way we are tracking internationally," Professor Nixon said.

"This success is driven by each and every one of our dedicated staff who continue to show resilience, agility and innovation, particularly during this difficult year."

The annual rankings measure universities' performance across 13 performance indicators which cover teaching, research volume and influence, international outlook and connection to industry.

The University of Oxford took out the top spot in the global ranking, followed by Stanford University and Harvard University.

In 2016 Australia had eight institutions in the top 200. This has increased to 12, with Macquarie University entering the top 200 in 2021.

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Times Higher Education's chief knowledge officer Phil Baty said Australia was a success story in the World University Rankings, but that could be tested as international students are barred from entering the country.

"Australia's great performance in rankings has been driven in large part by its extraordinary global leadership in attracting international students, particularly from China, which have become a major and vital source of income, used to cross-subsidise research and to pay the salaries of star academics," Mr Baty said.

"There may be something of a storm coming: the immediate reduction in international student mobility created by the pandemic could evolve into a more permanent change in the global flow of student talent, as students reassess their options, and perceptions of welcome and hospitality are strained by the crisis and mounting geopolitical tensions, for example between Australia and China."