Methodological changes in the Shanghai ranking, but KI strengthens its position in several areas
Earlier this week, a new ranking of the world universities came from the Academic Ranking of World Universities, ARWU (also called the Shanghai ranking). This ranking has been a relatively stable ranking since it was introduced in 2003.
However, this year and last, several method changes were made that have resulted in a number of the world universities either having been moved up or down on ARWU's various ranking lists. Changes have included how publications are counted, how highly cited researchers are counted and how prize winners are counted. The total calculation and how to rank for different subject categories differs from before.
In the overall calculation, where all universities, regardless of specialization, are mixed, KI 2019 received an all-time high ranking; No. 38. This year, 2020, KI is "back" in place 45 (12th in Europe). During the 18 years that the ranking was published, KI's general average ranking has been 45.2 and varied between 38 and 53. The ranking means that KI is still the highest ranked university in Sweden. Other Swedish universities in the "top 100" are Stockholm University (69) and Uppsala University (77).
It is perhaps more of interest to study the different subject rankings of similar parts of the higher education institutions. Over the years, subject areas have been divided and more have been added, so it is difficult to follow a long-term trend. In several areas by 2020, KI has strengthened or consolidated its positions that prominent universities in the world and leaders in Europe, for example Biological Sciences, position 16 globally (3rd in Europe); Public health; position 6 globally (2nd in Europe); and Nursing, position 3 globally (1st in Europe).