Times Higher Education (THE), the world’s most authoritative source of data, analysis and information on higher education, and publisher of the World University Rankings since 2004, today launches Japan University Rankings 2022 (JUR2022) with the cooperation of Benesse Group for innovation and globalization of universities in Japan.
Benesse Group formed a business alliance with THE in 2016 and cooperated as the total partner of THE in Japan. The 1st JUR was launched in March 2017 and is now in its 6th year. WUR launched in every September is more “Research” centred, JUR is designed to measure universities’ “teaching” aspects to reflect Japanese universities’ strength and characteristics.
The JUR methodology consists of 4 pillars, “Resource”, ”Engagement”, “Outcome” and “Environment”. Other existing university rankings in Japan are more focused on students’ academic ability at the timing of their entrance, JUR2022 rankings focus on the quality of students’ learning and growth.
In JUR2022, 273 universities have been included in the rankings.
In the overall ranking, Tohoku University was ranked top again after last year, the University of Tokyo (3rd last year), up one place, was ranked second. Up two places, Osaka University (5th last year) and Tokyo Institute of Technology (2nd last year) were tied for the third, followed by Kyoto University (4th last year) in fifth place and Hokkaido University (6th last year) in sixth place.
As for the rankings by pillar, the top university for three pillars remain the same, University of Tokyo for “Resource”, Akita International University for “Engagement” and Kyoto University for “Outcome” while Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) was ranked top for “Environment” for the first time.
Amidst various changes in the social environment, Japanese higher education institutions are attracting attention from the perspectives of university management, governance and, above all, 'educational quality assurance'. The need for IR to manage and utilise objective data for university innovation is only increasing. And with Japan's population of 18-year-olds decreasing by 10% in the next 10 years and by 20% in 20 years, it is extremely important to communicate the attractions of Japanese universities from various aspects to prospective students around the world.
THE and Benesse Group would like JUR to be utilized in the process of university innovation as a tool to capture universities’ unique appeal and characteristic objectively rather than only as the result of rankings. We would like to keep improving JUR together with all relevant parties.
For more information visit: Japan University Rankings 2022
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