The University of the Witwatersrand has secured the top position in the inaugural Times Higher Education (THE) Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings. The rankings aim to recognize and address local challenges while showcasing the leading higher education institutions across the Sub-Saharan Africa region.

Following the University of the Witwatersrand, the University of Johannesburg in South Africa claimed the second spot, while Tanzania's Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, the University of Pretoria in South Africa, and Makerere University in Uganda ranked third, fourth, and fifth, respectively.

Rounding out the top 10, in order of merit, are the University of the Western Cape in South Africa, Covenant University in Nigeria, Rwanda's University of Global Health Equity, Ashesi University in Ghana, and Ardhi University in Tanzania.

Developed in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation, the ranking employs a hybrid methodology that encompasses teaching, impact, and research. It assesses five key pillars: resources and finance, access and fairness, teaching skills, student engagement, and African impact.

The data collection process involved surveying over 20,000 students from 88 institutions in 20 countries. Students were asked about various aspects, including the level of academic challenge, support for critical thinking, and opportunities for interaction with faculty and peers. The comprehensive ranking provides valuable insights into the most prominent universities in Sub-Saharan Africa, evaluating performance indicators across the five pillars: access and fairness, Africa impact, teaching skills, student engagement, and resources and finance.

Nigeria boasts the highest representation among the ranked universities with 37 institutions, followed by South Africa with nine, Ghana and Kenya with seven each, and Somalia and Uganda with five each.

The rankings also shed light on the disparities between public and private universities. Out of the 88 institutions, 59 (67%) are public, 21 (24%) are private not-for-profit, and eight are private for-profit (9%), according to Times Higher Education. Notably, seven out of the top 10 universities are public.

Public universities achieved an average overall score of 50 and charged students a median fee of £966 annually. In contrast, private institutions received an average score of 43, with not-for-profit universities charging £1,922 and for-profit institutions charging £3,291 per year.

Public providers outperformed private universities across four of the five pillars: access and fairness, Africa impact, resources and finance, and student engagement. However, private universities generally excelled in teaching and employability skills.

Phil Baty, THE's chief global affairs officer, emphasized the significance of the ranking for African higher education. He expressed hopes that the rankings would foster collaboration among universities, enable institutions to celebrate achievements, identify areas for improvement, and provide valuable guidance to parents and prospective students seeking authoritative information.

Article by Jed Mwangi

Photo/WITS

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/student/best-universities/best-universities-sub-saharan-africa