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The University of Toronto’s academic and research performance ranks among the best in the world – and is the best in Canada – in a prestigious international ranking released this week.

The Times Higher Education (THE) report rated the University 19th overall in its rankings, which measure the institutional excellence of the world’s top 200 universities in research, teaching and knowledge transfer. Three Canadian universities placed in the top 50 in the THE’s ranking, and nine in the top 200 world-wide.

 “These results are encouraging. Whatever one thinks of the science – or lack thereof -- in university rankings, they are here to stay, and the more Canadian universities that do well, the better,” said David Naylor, University of Toronto president.

It’s the latest installment in an international rankings season that has consistently placed ����ֱ�� among the world’s top universities. In August, the prestigious Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s Academic Ranking of World Universities put ����ֱ�� first in Canada and 26th in the world. Newsweek followed with its rankings, placing ����ֱ�� third among universities outside the United States – behind only the University of Oxford and University of Cambridge. And, in a report that ranked ����ֱ�� 23rd in the world and 2nd overall in Canada, QS World University Rankings placed U of  T first in Canada in academic reputation and in all five subject areas: arts and humanities; natural sciences; life sciences and biomedicine; engineering and IT; social sciences.

“Over the years, the Times Higher Education has consulted widely, and strengthened their measurement systems with important innovations such as a survey of teaching and learning environments,” said University of Toronto President David Naylor. “I am delighted to see our dedicated faculty, and those of many sister institutions, recognized for their inspiring teaching and world-leading research.” 

A number of Canadian universities gained ground in the THE rankings, including UBC which placed 22nd this year, up from 30th last year, McGill University which climbed to 28th from 35th and McMaster University which jumped to 65th place from 93th.  The University of Alberta, University of Montreal, Queen’s University, University of Victoria and University of Ottawa also ranked in the top 200.

Phil Baty, editor of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2011-12, said THE’s list of top 200 universities represents approximately the top one per cent of higher education institutions worldwide. The University of Toronto had placed 17th in the THE rankings last year; however, “securing a place once again within the top 20 is an outstanding achievement,” said Baty.

“To do so, a university must score highly across our full range of indicators, and indeed the University of Toronto performed consistently well throughout,” Baty said. “In an increasingly competitive international field, and with the 2011-12 rankings including some significant new entries, I would like to offer my personal congratulations to the University of Toronto on an exceptional result.”