World 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ Rankings 2013-2014 out now

South Korea¡¯s Pohang 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Science and Technology heads a list of the world¡¯s top 100 universities under 50 years old for the second consecutive year, while the UK¡¯s ¡°plate-glass¡± universities have lost some ground.

Founded in 1986, Pohang ¨C better known as Postech ¨C retains its top spot in Times Higher Education¡¯s second annual 100 Under 50 rankings, comfortably ahead of Switzerland¡¯s ?cole Polytechnique F¨¦d¨¦rale de Lausanne in second place.

Postech¡¯s national rival, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (Kaist), rises from fifth to third, while the Hong Kong 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Science and Technology drops one place to fourth.

Only one UK institution ¨C the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of York, in seventh place ¨C makes the top 10, compared with three last year. After York, the highest-placed UK institutions are the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Warwick (13th), Lancaster 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ (14th) and the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of East Anglia (16th).

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Overall, however, the UK still has the most representatives in THE¡¯s list, with 18 in the top 100 institutions. This is down from 20 last year, although one of 2012¡¯s entrants ¨C Keele 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ ¨C is now too old to be included in the ranking.

Other strong national systems include Australia (13 institutions), the US (eight), France (seven), Spain (six) and Taiwan (five).

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But South Korea¡¯s first and third place spots make it the ¡°star¡± of this year¡¯s list, said Phil Baty, editor of Times Higher Education Rankings.

¡°South Korea¡¯s experience shows that it is possible for nations with sufficient political will to build in a relatively short time world-class universities that can compete with the traditional elites in the US and the UK,¡± he said.

A league of nations

Overall, 28 countries make the list, eight of them in the top 10.

Several French institutions established after the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Paris was broken up in the wake of 1968¡¯s social unrest feature in the top 100, including Pierre et Marie Curie (ninth), Paris-Sud (10th) and Paris Diderot-Paris 7 (17th).

Spain features prominently, with six top 100 institutions, in contrast to the World 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ Rankings, where it has none in the top 200.

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While the UK¡¯s strong performance is attributable largely to the success of universities formed in the 1960s, three former polytechnics given university status in 1992 make the top 100: Plymouth 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ (joint 53rd), the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Hertfordshire (75th) and Liverpool John Moores 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ (joint 88th). The Open 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ enters the list in joint 99th place.

THE¡¯s 100 Under 50 is based on the same 13 performance indicators covering teaching, research, interaction with industry and internationalisation that underpin THE¡¯s World 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ Rankings, although academic reputation is less significant.

The ranking provides a fresh perspective on the concept of the ¡°elite university¡±, which some believe better reflects past glories and reputation built up over centuries than current academic excellence.

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¡°The traditional elite cannot afford to coast on centuries of history and tradition or rely too heavily on reputation,¡± Mr Baty said. ¡°There is a new breed of dynamic universities emerging quickly and visibly to challenge for their crowns.¡±

Some younger institutions have proved that with the right focus and support, they can establish themselves as global forces in years rather than generations, Mr Baty added.

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jack.grove@tsleducation.com