POSTECH ranked second in Times Higher Education (THE) World’s Best Small Universities 2024, continuing its previous year’s placement and setting a national record as the first Korean university to hold this rank for two consecutive years. THE, a British publication renowned for its comprehensive coverage of higher education, produces globally recognized rankings based on millions of data points from over 7,000 institutions worldwide. With over 50 years of partnerships with universities, THE rankings are regarded as reliable measures of institutional performance on the global stage.
On Aug. 7, 2024, THE announced the top 20 small universities globally, with specific criteria for inclusion. A university must be listed in THE World University Rankings 2024, offer more than four academic subjects, and have fewer than 5,000 students, being qualified as a “small university.” After meeting these criteria, THE applied the metrics used for THE World University Rankings 2024, encompassing 17 performance indicators grouped into five categories: Teaching, Research Environment, Research Quality, International Outlook, and Industry.
In the Teaching category, five factors were considered: teaching reputation, student-to-staff ratio, doctorate-to-bachelor ratio, doctorate-to-staff ratio, and institutional income. Research Environment evaluated research reputation, income, and productivity. Research Quality was measured through citation impact and research strength, reflecting the institution’s scholarly influence. International Outlook assessed the university’s ability to attract international students, faculty, and global collaborations. The Industry category measured industry income and patents, reflecting the institution’s capacity to translate research into practical innovations.
Building on last year’s success, POSTECH achieved a perfect score in the Industry category and retained its second-place ranking. The university’s growing research income and sustained high-quality education were key contributors to this achievement.
Meanwhile, other Korean institutions, including the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST 4th), Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST 12th), and Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST 16th), are also demonstrating strong global competitiveness. These universities, led by POSTECH, are expected to further elevate their influence on the international academic stage in the years to come.
