Andina

QS: Peruvian higher education is Latin America's most improved in latest subject rankings

Photo: ANDINA/Archive

Photo: ANDINA/Archive

10:54 | Lima, mar. 29.

International higher education analyst QS Quacquarelli Symonds has released the 13th edition of the QS World University Rankings by Subject.

The rankings see two Peruvian subjects place in the world top 100 —one more than last year.

Meanwhile, of Latin American countries with 10 or more ranked subjects, Peru is the most improved, boasting an overall improvement percentage of 25%.

It is also the only Latin American country in which no subjects have declined, making it one of only four countries in the world with 10 or more ranked subjects to achieve this, alongside Oman, Kuwait, and Serbia.

The 2023 instalment of the QS World University Rankings by Subject offers independent data on the performance of 28 programs at eight Peruvian universities.

Of Peru's total ranked programs, seven improve, none decline, and 19 remain unchanged. Two programs appear for the first time.

Additionally, Peru boasts four entries in the five broad areas of studies tables (Arts & Humanities, Engineering & Technology, Life Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences). Of these, three improve, and three rank for the first time. 

Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru is the country's strongest institution overall —with 19 ranked subjects, including the country's only two top 100 disciplines - Modern Languages in 97th and Archaeology in the 51-100 band.

It is followed by Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos and Universidad del Pacifico with two ranked subjects each.

QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023: Peru Highlights 

Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos' Medicine program has recorded the country's largest improvement in H-Index, which measures research output and impact.

Universidad Nacional Agraria la Molina climbs into the world top 200 for Agriculture & Forestry.

Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru's Archaeology program ranks in the 51-100 band. It is the county's most well-regarded subject among international academics, according to QS' Academic Reputation survey. Meanwhile, its Sociology program achieves the highest score in the employer reputation indicator, suggesting strong employment prospects.

Peru's only other top 100 subject is Modern Languages at Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru, which is ranked 97th. It also commands a strong international reputation.

Medicine at Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH) produces some of Peru's highest quality research according to Citations per Paper and is the country's most improved in H-Index.

Universidad Nacional de Ingenieria (Peru) ranks in the 101-150 band. It has seen the country's largest improvement in employer reputation year-on-year.

"This subject ranking is the largest ever and provides an ever-deeper understanding of how rankings success is achieved. Sustained targeted investment and international collaboration are consistently shown to be pillars on which progress can be made. Meanwhile, improving relationships with industry correlates with better employment, research, and innovation outcomes," QS Senior Vice President Ben Sowter said.

"Peru's resilience in this year's rankings comes against the backdrop of a period of high economic growth, a rapidly increasing number of universities and surging enrolment numbers. This growth carries its own unique set of concerns around quality control and funding but the fact that no Peruvian subjects have declined should go some way to allaying these concerns," he added.

Editor's note: Information provided by QS Quacquarelli Symonds.

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Publicado: 29/3/2023