The 20th edition of the QS World University Ranking compiled by the “Quacquarelli Symonds” agency, which makes an overall assessment of universities, has been published. This year, with a revamped edition in the weighting structure of the indicators and in the inclusion of new metrics, the University of Pisa climbs 55 positions, placing itself 349th globally and 8th in Italy. This is partially thanks to the reduction in the weight attributed to the ratio between the number of students and the number of lecturers, which until now had penalised the Italian model compared to the Anglo-Saxon model. In fact, Unipi scores very well, ranking 209th and 182nd on a global scale, based on the new indicators which measure the international research network and the impact on society.
For years, the University of Pisa has had a place in the main international rankings drawn up by specialised agencies and newspapers. Over time, these rankings have become increasingly important in affirming the prestige of universities and have become an important point of reference for all interested parties in university institutions: students, researchers, companies, organisations, and government bodies.
However, the rankings are the result of a combination of several factors based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that differ depending on the evaluating body. For this reason, it is important to maintain an overview of the position in the main rankings and to carefully assess the strengths and weaknesses that emerge from the various indicators in the macro-areas assessed, such as scientific production, size indicators, awards, and reputational surveys.
For example, the weakest points to be worked include internationalisation (for both students and lecturers) and the indicators of how well Unipi’s research and teaching activities are known internationally. The University of Pisa has already implemented various activities to improve its level of internationalisation, including membership to Circle U., the European University Alliance to which our university belongs along with eight other prestigious European universities. In terms of its external image, the university is working on strengthening relations with companies and potential investors in research and more broadly to improve its communication strategies.