THE Europe Teaching Rankings 2019: results announced

Browse the full THE Europe Teaching Rankings 2019 results

Spanish universities have soared up a Times Higher Education ranking of the best European universities for teaching and learning, but the UK continues to dominate the table.  

The University of Navarra has climbed five places to third position in the second edition of the THE Europe Teaching Rankings, while the Autonomous University of Barcelona is now in 12^th position, up from 20^th, and the Autonomous University of Madrid is joint 18^th, up from joint 22^nd.

Of the 14 Spanish institutions in the top 100 that were also ranked last year, 10 either improved their rank or remained stable. Spain also has several newcomers, led by IE University in joint 33^rd place. Overall, 45 universities in Spain feature in the list.

The country’s universities generally received strong scores in the engagement pillar, which is based on a survey of 125,000 students across 18 countries. Questions include the extent to which the university supports critical thinking, and the extent to which students have the opportunity to interact with faculty and teachers. Spain holds the top three scores in this pillar.

IE University also leads the environment pillar, which measures student and staff gender balance as well as two new metrics this year: share of international students and share of students participating in the European Union’s Erasmus+ student mobility programme.

- Going from strength to strength
- Collaboration is key for keeping students engaged
- Regional variations
- Personal growth
- Lifelong learning
- Studying abroad

However, despite Spain’s progress, the UK still tops the table, claiming 17 of the top 20 places and 99 positions overall. The ranking is led by the University of Oxford in first place and the University of Cambridge in second.

Oxford tops the outcomes pillar, which draws on data on teaching reputation, graduation rate and the development of students’ skills. Meanwhile Cambridge is number one for resources, which measures universities’ student-to-staff ratio, research productivity and quality of services.

Overall, 258 universities across 18 countries feature in the ranking, up from 242 institutions across eight nations last year.

Europe Teaching Rankings 2019: top 10

ellie.bothwell@timeshighereducation.com