Eleven Portuguese universities ranked among world’s best

Portugal has secured a strong presence in the latest edition of the QS World University Rankings, with 11 universities featuring among the world’s top 1,504 institutions.

The annual ranking, one of the most influential global assessments of higher education, places the University of Lisbon as Portugal’s highest-ranked institution, in 237th place worldwide.

The University of Porto follows in 255th position, while NOVA University Lisbon ranks 337th and the University of Coimbra 342nd.

The University of Aveiro placed 425th, with the University of Minho ranked 572nd. The Portuguese Catholic University was listed in the 791-800 band, while ISCTE – University Institute of Lisbon ranked between 851st and 900th.

The University of Beira Interior entered the ranking in the 901-950 category, while the University of the Algarve was placed in the 1,001-1,200 range and the University of Évora featured between 1,201st and 1,400th.

Among Portuguese institutions, the University of Coimbra recorded the strongest performance, climbing five places to achieve its highest-ever position.

The inclusion of the University of Beira Interior and the University of Évora further expanded Portugal’s representation in the ranking.

China narrows the gap

The latest rankings highlight a shifting balance in global higher education, with China continuing to narrow the gap with long-established academic powers.

Mainland China now has 85 universities included in the rankings, 13 more than last year, reflecting sustained public investment in scientific research, technology and innovation.

The United States remains the most represented country, with 184 institutions in the rankings, followed by the United Kingdom with 93.

However, many universities in both countries slipped down the table. According to QS data, 65% of US institutions fell in the rankings, while around 40% of British universities also lost ground.

By contrast, 61% of Chinese universities improved their positions.

The global top five continues to be dominated by English-speaking institutions, led by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), followed by Imperial College London, Stanford University, the University of Oxford and Harvard University.

Jessica Turner, chief executive of QS, said the findings demonstrated that international leadership in higher education could not be taken for granted.

“Dominance should not be confused with permanence,” she said, arguing that attracting talent, fostering innovation and maintaining international openness would be crucial to future success.

The report also highlighted growing competition to attract international students and researchers, particularly as global demand for expertise in technology, healthcare and engineering continues to rise.

Source: Sol