日文新聞平台

Japan once again tops this year’s Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings, released Thursday, but is finding its traditional dominance in higher education increasingly challenged by China and South Korea, education experts say.

The nation held on to its number one position in this year’s rankings, with 20 schools listed in the top 100, but China now has 18 of its mainland institutions listed. And if six schools separately listed under Hong Kong, Beijing’s special administrative region, were also included, China would lead the list with 24.

South Korea came in third, with 14 of its institutions listed, while Taiwan fell from second to fourth with 13 establishments in the top 100.

There were few changes at the top end of the annual league table, as the University of Tokyo retained first place and the National University of Singapore held on to second. The University of Hong Kong once again came third, followed by Seoul National University, which jumped from eighth place.

China’s top-ranked institutions are Peking University, which came in fifth, and Tsinghua University, in sixth.

Five of Japan’s institutions are listed in the top 20: University of Tokyo (first), Kyoto University (seventh), the Tokyo Institute of Technology (13th), Osaka University (15th) and Tohoku University (16th).

However, the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (81st in 2013) and Yokohama National University (joint 96th) have both dropped out of the table this year, while three more institutions are close to losing their places: Okayama University (down nine places to 94th), Kanazawa University (holding on to 96th position) and Chiba University (which has fallen 23 places to joint 98th).

By contrast, the league table shows a number of Chinese universities climbing their way up the rankings.

Phil Baty, editor of Times Higher Education Rankings, said, “Japan is still the top Asian nation for higher education and research, but potentially not for much longer: the new data show clearly that it is in danger of losing its lead, with China and South Korea in hot pursuit.”

Although they had a strong head start, Japan’s universities have suffered during the nation’s protracted economic downturn. Meanwhile, other Asian countries have been investing heavily in their higher education systems.

“In addition to funding cuts, conservatism, complacency and a reluctance to embrace internationalization are also hurting Japan. There are signs that these problems are being addressed but, is it too little, too late?” Baty said.

The rankings are compiled using 13 different performance indicators to examine each university’s strengths in teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook.

The Asian rankings include countries in East Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.