New QS ranking: Britain's decline, Asia's triumph?

British universities lose their positions in the latest international rankings, including QS ranking published several days ago. The best UK university, Cambridge, is no more in the top three, for the first time since the QS ranking was created 12 years ago. The majority of British universities also lose their positions comparing to the previous year. However, this decline is typical for many western European institutions as well – universities in France, Germany, Italy and Portugal has also drop down the table.

Among 48 British universities in the top 400, 38 dropped down. The decline is not dramatic, but systematic: Cambridge now occupies the fourth place (third in 2015), London School of Economics – 37 (35 in 2015), Imperial College London – 8 (9 in 2015). This tumble is more serious that in any other European country.

QS says that Brexit may be one of the reasons of the decline: now research funding is more uncertain, as well as immigration rules and the ability to attract young talented people from every corner of the world. Brexit has definitely damaged the UK's reputation in higher education. Almost 75% of British universities have seen a decline in academic and employer reputation this year, and more that 50% of them have noted a drop in the number of international faculty (foreign professors and researchers).

By contrast, US private universities continue to dominate international rankings: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) occupies the first place, followed by Stanford University and Harvard.

The situation in Asia is even brighter: 68% of Asian universities in the top 400 have risen in the ranking since the last year. However, only two Asian universities are in the top-20: National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University, while other places are occupied by American, British, Swiss (ETH Zurich and Ecole Polytechnique de Lausanne). The best Chinese university, Tsinghua, has risen to 24th place, its highest position ever. Peking University now on the 39 place (41 in 2015), Fudan University - 43th (51 in 2015). Universities in South Korea, Malaysia and Japan also continue to climb in the world rankings. While we still see western domination among the top universities this trend may be reversed In the nearest future.