Makerere best in research in East and Central Africa

By Innocent Anguyo

MAKERERE University is the best in East and Central Africa, and third among top 15 institutions on the continent whose research has been cited by academics worldwide, while its regional rival; University of Nairobi comes a distant eighth.

The rankings were for 2009 to 2013, during which the universities were required to have published a minimum of 500 research papers, with at least 50 every year.

Out of the 1112.69 publications by Makerere in the referred period, 99.72% were cited by academics, a feat no other institution in East and Central Africa could attain.

In the same period, Nairobi University could only publish 671.72 papers- with 84.6% of them cited. This is the first ever Africa University Rankings by Times Higher Education (THE).

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings annually list the best global universities across all of their core missions - teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook.  

However, on the continent, South Africa's institutions dominated the list with University of Cape Town taking the first place, followed by the University of the Witwatersrand.

Cape Town had 99.90% of its 5540.21 publications cited, while Witwatersrand had a score of 99.76% (4387.17 publications).

In fourth position was Stellenbosch, followed by KwaZulu-Natal-both in South Africa.

Nigeria's University of Port Harcourt came sixth; University of Ghana was placed twelfth, while Egypt was represented by Suez Canal University- sitting at fourteenth.

Overall, South African institutions make up more than half the list with eight universities featured, while Morocco has two institutions represented: the University of Marrakech Cadi Ayyad at 10th and the University of Hassan II Casablanca at 15th.

The ranking was formulated using Elsevier's Scopus database to highlight some of the continent's top performers in terms of how often research papers are referred to and cited by other academics across the globe.

Times Higher Education released the names of the top 15 institutions on Wednesday ahead of the inaugural Times Higher Education Africa Universities Summit.

"This is an experimental and preliminary ranking based solely on research, and only on one aspect of research – how many times research papers are cited by other academics," said Phil Baty, editor of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings in a statement.

Baty however said factors such as teaching, economic contribution and civil education will be considered when ranking all universities in Africa.

The ranking of 30 African institutions will be revealed during the summit set for July 30 and 31 at the University of Johannesburg.

Education players attending the summit will discuss plans for comprehensive ranking, resource renewal and preventing brain drain.

Makerere publicist Ritah Namisango said the institution had once more proved her worth as one of Africa’s leading research institutions.

Makerere Vice Chancellor Prof. John Ddumba-Ssentamu perceived the ranking as an endorsement of the University’s research-led status saying: “Makerere is focused on being a research-led university. I congratulate our staff for the quality of their research cited in internationally recognized journals. I also thank our development partners for funding our research activities.”

Dr. Vincent Ssembatya, Makerere’s Director Quality Assurance noted that the institution’s being ranked third despite having published fewer findings than other universities shows the quality of research conducted at Makerere.

He opined that if Government could offer more support to research at Makerere like the State does for South African institutions, Uganda’s oldest university would be best on the continent in a matter of months.