Virginia Tech makes strong showing in QS World University Rankings 2024
Among the nearly 1,500 institutions evaluated globally, the university moved up 61 spots from last year’s ranking after receiving top marks in the indicators of international research, student employability, and sustainability
Global higher education analyst Quacquarelli Symonds released its latest international rankings Tuesday, and Virginia Tech made a substantial leap from its showing a year ago.
The QS World University Rankings 2024 is an annual publication of university rankings by Quacquarelli Symonds. It assesses universities against metrics related to research and discovery, employability and outcomes, learning experience, global engagement, and sustainability. QS World University Rankings is viewed as one of the three most widely read university world rankings in the world, along with Academic Ranking of World Universities and Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
Virginia Tech ranked No. 302 globally out of 1,497 institutions ranked, which placed the university among the top 21 percent of world institutions. Last year, the university ranked No. 363 overall in these rankings.
Virginia Tech scored well in international research network, an indicator of the global engagement category. This indicator assesses the diversity of an institution’s international research partnerships and how these partnerships help to solve the most pressing global challenges.
Virginia Tech ranked No. 197 in this indicator and No. 35 out of the 199 United States institutions evaluated.
“Virginia Tech’s rise in the QS World University Rankings is a testament to our emphasis on research and scholarship,” said Dan Sui, senior vice president and chief research and innovation officer. “Virginia Tech faculty collaborate with scholars worldwide, and major partnerships such as the UPWARDS for the Future program and launching of Virginia Tech’s newest site in India help our discoveries make a difference on a global scale. ”
Virginia Tech also scored well in employer reputation, an indicator of the employability and outcomes category. This indicator evaluates the perceptions of global employers on which universities are providing the most job-ready graduates.
Virginia Tech ranked No. 232 in this indicator and No. 36 out of the 199 American institutions evaluated.
“Recruiting and retaining talent is central to every company’s success in today’s digital economy,” said Brandy Salmon, associate vice president for innovation and partnerships. “Employers consider Virginia Tech a top destination for recruiting their future leaders, knowing our graduates bring the skill, perspective, and mindset needed to tackle industry challenges in 2023. Our student body is increasingly diverse, they value service and their real-world experiences make them ready to contribute on day one.”
Sustainability was a new indicator added to the QS World University Rankings this year. This indicator evaluates the social and environmental impact of universities as centers of education and research.
Virginia Tech ranked No. 292 globally in the sustainability indicator and No. 66 out of the 199 American institutions evaluated.
Last month, Virginia Tech ranked in the top 100 globally in the Times Higher Education 2023 Impact Rankings for its sustainability efforts. Virginia Tech’s Office of Sustainability works daily to meet the university’s goals stated in its Climate Action Commitment, which seeks to move the campus toward becoming a more sustainable community. Much of that work contributed to the top scores in both the Impact rankings and the QS World University rankings.
