This year, the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR), expanded its annual global report card to include 1,000 post-secondary institutions. Concordia was among the ranked institutions for the first time, placing 422nd globally, 19th out of 32 Canadian schools, and fourth out of seven Quebec universities.
The CWUR, a Saudi Arabian firm, claims the methodology it uses for its rankings measures the quality of education and student training, the quality of research, and the prestige of faculty members of the world’s universities.
Instead of relying on surveys or data submissions from universities to determine its rankings, the firm uses three main indicators, including alumni employment (measured by the number of former students who hold CEO positions at the world’s top 200 companies, relative to the university’s size), each worth 25 per cent.
The other two main indicators are quality of education (measured using the number of international awards, prizes and medals earned by the university’s alumni, relative to the university’s size) and quality of faculty (measured by the number of academics who have won major international awards, prizes or medals).
Concordia’s strongest showing was in alumni employment. In that category, it placed 110th out of the 1,000 schools included in the rankings, sixth in Canada and second in Quebec.
Lesser indicators, each worth five per cent, include publications, influence, citations, broad impact and patents.
Read about Concordia’s recent showing in the Times Higher Education 100 Under 50.