Cape Town is the best university in Africa. A supremacy on which the most diverse rankings seem to agree, from the QS World University Rankings to that compiled by the Times Higher Education. Both rankings place the university more or less at the same height: 173^rd for the former and 167^th for the latter. A good result, if we take into account that for QS the first Italian university comes in 111^th position, with the Politecnico di Milano.

The African universities included in the QS list come mainly from South Africa, 11, and Egypt, 15, but countries from every corner of the continent are making room for themselves, from Ghana to Sudan, from Morocco to Uganda, and even Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia and Tunisia.

Although their scores remain low when compared with those of many western universities, one can see how several African universities have improved their prestige and credibility in recent years. Again, QS shows a rapid growth in position from year to year. The University of Ghana, for instance, is in the range of 851^st to 900th position this year, while only two years ago it hovered between 1200^th and 1400^th.

According to the Times Higher Education, a merit mention for sub-Saharan Africa goes to Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Tanzania, considered the third best on the continent, and Uganda's Makerere University, fifth. The Times' global ranking, however, is less generous. And while some universities are credited with strengthening, others plummet hundreds of places, such as the University of Cape Coast, in Ghana.

One factor that has been present since last year is positive social impact. Combined with sustainability, it now has a separate ranking where universities' performance against the UN Sustainable Development Goals is assessed. Interestingly, in this type of assessment, African universities are much higher. Johannesburg, South Africa, leads the continent, ranking 36^th globally (and well ahead of any Italian university). In 2023, it was first overall in terms of poverty alleviation, thanks to numerous study support initiatives. Ghana and Nigeria also did well.

A winning strategy that has been recognised by the continent's academia is the willingness to develop partnerships and create collaborations between universities, strengthening each other. Despite the fact that funds are often lacking and the challenges to be faced, in order to align with the various international competitors, still numerous, analysts seem to agree in welcoming with optimism the results achieved over the past year.

See, Cresce il prestigio delle università africane nelle classifiche mondiali

Photo © University of Cape Town