New Arab ranking and significant progress for Arab Universities in the Times Higher Education Arab University Rankings 2023

In the Arab Universities Ranking 2023 issued by the Arab Universities Union in collaboration with the Arab League, the Arab Organization for Education, Culture, and Science, and the Federation of Arab Scientific Research Councils, dated December 21, 2023, the Arab ranking included 115 universities from 16 Arab countries.

This marks the first edition of this ranking, and its creators hope that it will become a competitive measure globally, characterized by accuracy and transparency to elevate the standards of education and scientific research in Arab countries. Show the Full ranking list from here.

 The top three universities in the ranking were King Saud University in Saudi Arabia, followed by Cairo University in Egypt, and then the United Arab Emirates University.

Top 10 Arab Universities in the 2023 Ranking

Criteria Used in the Ranking

The Arab Universities Ranking is based on four main criteria, including:

• Education and Learning (30%): Quality of education, research, and educational facilities.
• Scientific Research (30%): University's scientific production and global impact.
• Creativity and Innovation (20%): University's activities in innovation and entrepreneurship.
• Collaboration (20%): International collaboration of the university with other institutions.

Each indicator is measured using 9 criteria with different weights. The Arab Universities Union aims for the Arab ranking to serve as a primary motivator for academics, emphasizing the need to strengthen international relations, encourage research output transformation, and attract distinguished faculty and students.

Yemeni Universities Ranking in the Arab Universities 2023 Ranking

On the other hand, Taiz University topped the list in Yemen and ranked 39th in the Arab world, with 12 Yemeni universities included in the ranking.

Yemeni Universities Ranking According to the Classification:

Times British Ranking (THE) of Arab Universities for 2023

In the same context, the Times Higher Education Foundation, in collaboration with King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia, released the Arab Universities Ranking for 2023, marking the third consecutive year. This year's ranking witnessed significant progress for Arab universities, including 207 universities from 16 Arab countries, compared to 172 universities from 15 Arab countries in the previous year.

The top three universities in the Times ranking were King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia, followed by Cairo University in Egypt, and then the United Arab Emirates University.

Top 10 Arab Universities in the Times British Ranking 2023

Significant Progress for Arab Universities:

The Arab Universities Ranking for 2023 witnessed significant progress for Arab universities in all fields, especially in education, learning, and scientific research. This progress is a result of the efforts made by Arab universities to develop their educational programs, increase scientific production, and enhance research and development activities.

Challenges Facing Arab Universities:

Despite the progress made by Arab universities, they still face challenges, including:

• Lack of funding, as Arab universities heavily depend on government funding, limiting their ability to develop educational and research programs.
• Brain drain, where many Arab academics migrate to advanced countries, negatively impacting the quality of education and research in Arab universities.
• Bureaucracy, as Arab universities struggle with excessive bureaucracy, hindering decision-making and the implementation of development programs.

Recommendations from the ASREN Experts:

To overcome these challenges, the ASREN experts recommends the following measures for Arab universities:

• Increase private funding by attracting investments from the private sector and civil society institutions.
• Encourage applied scientific research that contributes to solving societal problems.
• Enhance international collaboration through partnerships with educational and research institutions in advanced countries.

If Arab universities succeed in overcoming these challenges, they will play a more significant role in economic and social development in the region.