On the 22nd, THE announced the world college rankings that include 890 colleges in 79 countries. A total of 25 Korean universities were listed including YU, Seoul National University (72nd), KAIST (89th), and Pohang University of Science and Technology (104th). In particular, YU was ranked at a tied 16th for Korean universities together with Kyungpook National University, Kunkook University, Ajou University, Inha University, Chonbuk National University, and Chonnam National University.
Ranked first overall in this evaluation was Oxford University of England, while Caltech, Standford University, Cambridge University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) were ranked 2nd to fifth.
THE, which was founded in 1971, is a prominent global college ranking institute together with the British QS (Qaucquarelli Symonds), and it announced world college rankings annually since 2004. THE's world college rankings apply strict standards based on classes, research, influence and internationalization, and it is assessed worldwide to have high public confidence.
Meanwhile, YU was ranked 128th (22nd in Korea) among Asian universities in the '2016 Asia College Rankings' announced by QS in June. While most of the major universities in Korea dropped in ranking, YU climbed 22 ranks from 150th in 2013 to 128th this year. Earlier in May in the '2016 Leiden Ranking', which ranks colleges around the world based on the qualitative level of theses, YU was ranked 50th in the world and first in Korea in the mathematics and computer science sector, thus being recognized for its world-class research capacities.
YU President Noh Seok-kyun said, "This is an objective evaluation of our school's status by world acclaimed college ranking institutes." He added, "I hope that not only YU, but the universities of Korea compete fairly with prestigious schools around the world to enhance their education and research levels to global standards."