Times Higher Education (THE) have announced the latest edition of their Japan University Rankings. These use a different methodology from the world rankings and are focused on teaching rather than research.

Tohoku University, Miyagi, is first for the fifth consecutive year followed by the Tokyo Institute of Technology and the University of Tokyo.

The current methodology is based on four pillars:

Resources: Finance per student, Faculty per student, Research output, Mock exam scores, Research grants

Engagement: Global talent development, Student engagement, Interaction with students and faculty, Student recommendation

Outcomes: Academic reputation, Employer reputation

Environment: International students, staff, exchange programmes, courses in a foreign language.

It is noticeable that the Resources metric is led by medical institutions such as Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Nara Medical University, and Nippon Medical School , while international universities are prominent at the top of the list for Engagement and Environment, and the traditional elite still dominates the Outcomes table.

The top three universities for each pillar are:

Overall

1. Tohoku University
2. Tokyo Institute of Technology
3. University of Technology

Resources

1. Tokyo Medical and Dental University
2. Hamamatsu University School of Medicine
3. University of Tokyo

Engagement

1. International Christian University
2. Akita International University
3. Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University

Outcomes

1. Kyoto University
2. Kyushu University
3. Hokkaido University

Environment

1. Akita University
2. Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
3. International Christian University.

Source:
Times Higher Education