Two UAE universities have ranked among the top 50 in Asia for the first time, according to the Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings 2019.
The rankings, released on Wednesday, placed four of the country's universities in its list of the best 417 institutes across the region.
Khalifa University, which was already in the top 50, remained the Emirates' top-ranked institute, rising four spots to position 28.
UAE University jumped from 71 to 49, giving the country two top 50 entries for the first time. Yet the country still has room to improve, say experts.
“The data shows that all four institutions in the UAE have slightly lower scores for international outlook this year,” said Ellie Bothwell, the Times Higher Education rankings editor. “However, the country performs exceptionally well on this measure, so this is not a big concern.
“In general, universities in the UAE should concentrate on improving their teaching and research environments, both of which tend to be their weakest areas.”
UAEU improved its score through better citations in the academic papers authored by the institute’s researchers, where as Khalifa scored better this year on teaching environment.
The American University of Sharjah dropped from 167 to being in the 201 to 250 group, which fell in the 2018 Times Higher Education global assessment. It has improved on many of the metrics, but there was a faster improvement in other institutes.
The University of Sharjah maintained its position in the same grouping.
Mohamed Albaili, the vice chancellor of UAEU, said the university's ranking was a step towards its goal of breaking into the top 20 in Asia.
“[This] is an attestation that the university is enhancing its regional and global reputation by conducting cutting-edge research in areas of strategic difference to the region and the world,” he said.
The regional list of 27 countries is added with other regional lists to compile the Times Higher Education global rankings.
Universities that do not teach undergraduate students or produced less than 1,000 articles between 2013 and 2017 are excluded from consideration. Universities can also be excluded if 80 per cent or more of their research is exclusively in one of 11 subject areas.
This year’s index had 19 universities from the Middle East in the top 100.
King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia remained the top university in the MENA region, holding its position at 23. Turkey, Israel, Iran, Qatar, Jordan and Lebanon also appeared in the top 100, but institutes from the Far East dominated the table.
Tsinghua University became the first Chinese institute to rank number one on the list.
"China is once again one of the main success stories of these rankings, reflecting the country's large and sustained investment in the sector over many years. But this year's table shows that the People's Republic is far from the only Asian country to make real higher education progress," said Phil Baty, chief knowledge officer at Times Higher Education, in a statement.
“Leading universities in Japan and South Korea have made significant gains. Many institutions in Malaysia are soaring up the list and there are pockets of excellence in India and Indonesia.”
Japan was the most represented country with 103 listed institutions.
The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
Henrik Stenson's finishes at Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship:
2006 - 2
2007 - 8
2008 - 2
2009 - MC
2010 - 21
2011 - 42
2012 - MC
2013 - 23
2014 - MC
2015 - MC
2016 - 3
2017 - 8
FIXTURES
Thu Mar 15 – West Indies v Afghanistan, UAE v Scotland
Fri Mar 16 – Ireland v Zimbabwe
Sun Mar 18 – Ireland v Scotland
Mon Mar 19 – West Indies v Zimbabwe
Tue Mar 20 – UAE v Afghanistan
Wed Mar 21 – West Indies v Scotland
Thu Mar 22 – UAE v Zimbabwe
Fri Mar 23 – Ireland v Afghanistan
The top two teams qualify for the World Cup
Classification matches
The top-placed side out of Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong or Nepal will be granted one-day international status. UAE and Scotland have already won ODI status, having qualified for the Super Six.
Thu Mar 15 – Netherlands v Hong Kong, PNG v Nepal
Sat Mar 17 – 7th-8th place playoff, 9th-10th place playoff
Austrian Grand Prix race timings
Weekend schedule for Austrian Grand Prix - all timings UAE
Friday
Noon-1.30pm First practice
4-5.30pm Second practice
Saturday
1-2pm Final practice
4pm Qualifying
Sunday
4pm Austrian Grand Prix (71 laps)
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THE SPECS
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Speed: 0-100km/h 3.9 seconds
Price: Dh230,000
On sale: now
The biog
Name: Fareed Lafta
Age: 40
From: Baghdad, Iraq
Mission: Promote world peace
Favourite poet: Al Mutanabbi
Role models: His parents
Get inspired
Here are a couple of Valentine’s Day food products that may or may not go the distance (but have got the internet talking anyway).
Sourdough sentiments: Marks & Spencer in the United Kingdom has introduced a slow-baked sourdough loaf dusted with flour to spell out I (heart) you, at £2 (Dh9.5). While it’s not available in the UAE, there’s nothing to stop you taking the idea and creating your own message of love, stencilled on breakfast-inbed toast.
Crisps playing cupid: Crisp company Tyrells has added a spicy addition to its range for Valentine’s Day. The brand describes the new honey and chilli flavour on Twitter as: “A tenderly bracing duo of the tantalising tingle of chilli with sweet and sticky honey. A helping hand to get your heart racing.” Again, not on sale here, but if you’re tempted you could certainly fashion your own flavour mix (spicy Cheetos and caramel popcorn, anyone?).
Company Fact Box
Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO
Based: Amman, Jordan
Sector: Education Technology
Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed
Stage: early-stage startup
Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 (PA) | US$95,000 | (Dirt) 2,000m
7.05pm: Meydan Classic Listed (TB) ) | $175,000) | (Turf) 1,600m
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) ) | $135,000 ) | (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy Group 3 (TB) ) | $300,000) | (T) 2,810m
8.50pm: Curlin Handicap Listed (TB)) | $160,000) | (D) 2,000m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB)) | $175,000) | (T) 1,400m
10pm: Handicap (TB) ) | $135,000 ) | (T) 2,000m
