Record Number of US Colleges in Top 10, but China and COVID-19 Threaten Status as Higher Education Superpower, Says Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021 and Survey of Global University Leaders

LONDON, Sept. 2, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

• US domination of top 10 masks wider decline as THE releases largest ever annual World University Rankings
• China achieves first ever top 20 finish to break domination of western institutions
• Data shows China is closing the gap on US universities for impact of global research
• THE survey of 200 global university leaders on expected impact of Covid-19 lays bare challenges to US universities
• Infographic released by THE and accompanying social media assets illustrate how US' role as higher education superpower is at risk

America's higher education system has long been the envy of the world, competing only with the UK and Europe's top universities when it comes to global reach and attracting the best student, teaching and research talent. But the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2021, released today, and a recent THE survey of 200 global higher education leaders on their opinions related to the Covid-19 pandemic, suggest that outside of its elite institutions, US higher education is facing the stark reality of decline, and huge challenges if it wants to retain its position on the world stage.

Commanding a record 8 of the top 10 positions in the globally-recognised rankings, it would be easy to assume that US higher education is in fine health, but evidence shows it is losing out to the rise of Chinese universities.

Mainland China's Tsinghua University becomes the first ever Asian institution to break into the THE World University Rankings top 20, claiming joint 20^th this year, while the country's representation in the top 100 has doubled year on year up from three in 2020 to six in 2021. In 2016, China had just two universities in the top 200, in 2021 that number stands at seven.

And outside of the elite top 200 band, US institutions have been on a consistent downward trend since 2016 versus their Chinese counterparts.

Infographic - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1246464/Times_Higher_Education_China_vs_US_Infographic.jpg

ABOVE: CHINA VS US WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKINGS 2016 201-300: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

ABOVE: THE WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKINGS 2021 – TOP 10

In addition, when looking at the number of global published citations for research – a clear measure of the impact of a university's research on a global level – Chinese universities have been closing the gap on the US for some time. For the first time in the THE World University Rankings 2021, the citation score for middle-ranked Chinese and US universities have begun to converge.

Infographic - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1246465/Times_Higher_Education_China_Infographic.jpg

ABOVE: CHINA CLOSES THE GAP ON US FOR GLOBAL RESEARCH IMPACT

The warning signs are compounded by the threats posed by the coronavirus pandemic and the possible impact on international student movement and public funding. THE's recent survey of 200 global university leaders showed that US leaders (25 respondents) are more concerned than their global counterparts, and particularly China, when it comes to the damaging impact coronavirus could have on the sector.

Just 51% of US leaders think that science and research will become significantly higher priorities for the US Government once the pandemic is over. This compares to 78% of their Chinese counterparts and 71% in the UK. Combined with concerns that science and research budgets from public and charitable sources won't rise after the pandemic (just 48% agree budgets will rise from these sources, compared to 74% in China) if the views held in the survey materialise, the US could find itself struggling to fund research compared to international colleagues.

This fear is compounded by the belief by 44% of US leaders that the pandemic will reduce the government's willingness to invest in higher education over the next five years (compared to just 8% in China). Perhaps most concerning is the almost universal belief that the pandemic is likely to result in institutions going bankrupt (92% in US versus 0% in China).

With research and government funding at risk, other funding sources could become vital for success.

One area that leaders could turn to is international student fees, but 92% of US leaders believe Covid-19 will result in them being able to recruit fewer international students, compared to just 57% in China, and 67% in the UK, the only other nation to have institutions appear in the top 10 of the World University Rankings 2021.

64% of US leaders agree or strongly agree that this reduction will have a significant negative effect on their institution's finances and that this could be a longer-term challenge. 92% agree or strongly agree that there will be diminished student interest in studying abroad for the next five years.

Together, the World University Rankings 2021 and the THE global leaders survey (conducted in May 2020) paint a worrying picture for the US that could see China's rise through the rankings accelerate and a dramatic rebalancing of the global knowledge economy in the coming years.

Phil Baty, Chief Knowledge Officer at THE commented:

"The THE World University Rankings 2021 are a real wake-up call for the US higher education system, which has long dominated the global knowledge economy alongside the UK. It continues a trend over the past five years that has seen the rapid rise of China breaking into the top 100 at the expense of western institutions. The spectre of Covid-19 is yet to be seen, but it is clear from our leaders survey that without long-term commitments to funding, and an ability to reduce reliance on international student fees, China is in pole position to benefit at the expense of the United States on the global higher education stage."   

LINKS TO APPENDICES:

1.  Download Full Infographic

2.  Download Infographic Social Media Assets

3.  THE Global Leaders Survey Responses

4.  Table: Top 200 – THE World University Rankings 2021

5.  Table: Full US Performance – THE World University Rankings 2021

6.  About the THE World University Rankings and Methodology

7.  View Full THE World University Rankings 2021 Table

8.  View Full THE World University Rankings Methodology

About THE

THE is the trusted global data partner for higher education.  Drawing on five  decades  of expertise in the sector, millions of individual data points, more institutions participating in our flagship university rankings than  any other  and 28 million website users in 2019, we offer deeper and richer insight into university performance than anyone else. From powerful data-driven insights and strategic consultancy support to agenda-setting events and  hiring solutions, our products and services enable everyone  in higher  education to make smarter, more informed decisions.

For more information, please contact:  
Harry Huskisson
Head of Communications, THE  
[email protected]  
+44 (0)7471 355250 

SOURCE Times Higher Education (THE)