The University of Johannesburg (UJ) has once again been recognised as among the global leaders in higher education excellence and stature.

UJ has moved up markedly by roughly 59 places into the 501–510 rank band worldwide from 551–560 in the latest Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings 2020 published on Wednesday, 19 June 2019. This achievement places UJ among the top 1.8% of universities globally.

Significantly, this means that UJ has achieved a higher overall score and improved its global rank position in each of the ranking indicators, with a considerable climb in the rank of 22 places for employer reputation (from 366 to 344) and notable climbs for the staff-to-student ratio as well as for the proportion of international staff (up 18 places, from 233 to 215) and international students (up 75 places, from 430 to 355).

Additionally, UJ is recognised as the best-performing South African institution in the staff-to-student ratio category – climbing 32 places, from 445 to 413. UJ is now among the South African top risers, together with the University of Cape Town (climbed two places) and the University of Pretoria (climbed between one and 19 places) – as compared to UJ’s exceptional climb of 59 places.

UJ has retained its national standing at fourth position in the country, taking the first spot in the staff-to-student ratio category.

In Africa, UJ has climbed by a notch, now ranked in fifth position on the continent and surpassing Egypt’s Cairo University in the process. Prof Tshilidzi Marwala, the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of UJ, is pleased with the latest rankings that have affirmed the University as among the top achievers.

“This exceptional feat follows UJ listing in the Top 10 in the world of Times Higher Education’s (THE) University Impact Ranking for Reduced Inequalities. These achievements in these ranking systems demonstrates that the University is well on track in terms of establishing its global reputation as a place of research and academic repute. Both achievements in these global rankings affirms our endeavours to prepare our staff and students as a skilled workforce for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. I am confident that given its now well-established focus as a University of the 21^st century and beyond, UJ will continue on this growth trajectory and exceed expectations.”

• These achievements come against the backdrop of UJ taking a strong lead as among the Coolest University Brands in the Sunday Times Generation Next youth brand preference survey 2019, the largest preferred brand survey conducted in South Africa. UJ is ranked at second, after UCT.