An increase in the number of highly cited researchers attributed to the University of Saskatchewan (USask) contributed to a strong performance in the ShanghaiRanking Consultancy’s Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU). USask achieved a ranking of 301- 400 globally in the ARWU in 2023 out of more than 2,500 institutions around the world. According to USask’s calculations, the institution achieved a rank of 358th in the world — an increase from last year’s rank of 370th. ARWU ranks universities based on six indicators categorized across four different criteria. USask significantly improved its score in 2023 in the “highly cited researchers” indicator, doubling the number of qualifying researchers since last year’s ARWU listing from two to four. “We are pleased to see the hard work and dedication of USask scholars recognized on a global platform,” said Dr. Baljit Singh (PhD), Vice-President Research at USask. “These results reflect both the high quality of research taking place across our campus and USask’s commitment to being a pillar of research excellence internationally and in Canada.”

The four criteria used by the ARWU methodology are quality of education, quality of faculty, research output and per capita performance. ARWU analyzes every eligible university based on the organization’s criteria — the topranked institution is given a score of 100, and all following institutions are ranked in relation to the top score. The “highly cited researchers” indicator is part of the quality of faculty criteria, and is determined by the number of such researchers on the annual Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers list. USask had four researchers on the list released in 2022: senior Canadian Light Source (CLS) beamline scientists Dr. Yongfeng Hu (PhD) and Dr. Jigang Zhou (PhD), associate director of the Centre for Hydrology and Coldwater Laboratory Dr. Martyn Clark (PhD), and former executive director of the Global Institute for Water Security (GIWS) and professor emeritus Dr. Jay Famiglietti (PhD). “Our international reputation as a leading research institution continues to grow as USask students and faculty strive to be the university the world needs,” Singh said.