The University of Windsor has achieved its highest-ever position in one of the most influential global rankings.

The 20th edition of the World University Rankings by the Times Higher Education was released Sept. 27. Windsor made a notable jump, moving up nearly 100 spots to enter the 501-600 tier for the first time, placing it among the top third of universities globally.

Nationally, Windsor was ranked seventh among non-medical Canadian universities and fourth among non-medical Ontario universities.

“Our progress in this prestigious ranking is gratifying and motivating,” said UWindsor president Robert Gordon. “It reflects the extensive efforts of our faculty, researchers, and staff who have been pushing boundaries, as individuals and as a collective, to advance knowledge and discovery in new and different ways.”

The 2024 World University Rankings were the most comprehensive to date, including a record number of institutions — 1,904 across 108 countries and regions — and an updated methodology. New measures were introduced to assess research strength, excellence, influence, and industry knowledge transfer. In total, universities were assessed on 18 performance indicators within five areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry connections, and international outlook.

The University of Windsor improved its research quality and industry scores and earned a place in the top 25 percent of all universities globally for its research environment, which considers productivity, reputation, and income generation.

“Our focus on excellence in research, scholarship, and creative activity has helped UWindsor reach new heights in this prestigious global ranking, driven by our gains in research quality, partnerships, and impact,” said Shanthi Johnson, vice-president, research, and innovation. “We will continue to champion innovation and collaboration, both locally and globally.”

Windsor has now achieved its highest-ever placement in an international university ranking for the second time in recent months. In July, it was listed among the top 44 percent of universities worldwide in the QS World University Rankings, where it also moved up 100 positions.

“Our University’s ongoing advancement on the world stage is a source of immense pride for the entire UWindsor community,” Gordon said. “It underscores the impact of change and improvement and propels our continued pursuit of excellence on a larger scale.

“As we progress with both gradual and monumental strides, we remain committed to our mission of empowering positive change through innovative teaching, research, diverse perspectives, and creative initiatives.”

Times Higher Education is a leading source of data, insight, and expertise on higher education worldwide. This year, its World University Rankings analyzed 134 million citations, 68,402 scholar responses, and data from 2,673 institutions. Results are published only for universities meeting specified performance criteria; an additional 105 were included this year compared to 2023. The top 200 universities are ranked, and the others categorized into tiers.