This is according to the latest Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings, released on Wednesday (25/3). Both subject groups retained their positions from the previous year, with agriculture placed in the 301–350 category and medicine in the 701–850 bracket.

The rankings reflect the university’s sustained performance in key academic disciplines, supported by strategic initiatives and partnerships aimed at strengthening teaching, research, and innovation.

NWU vice-chancellor Prof. Bismarck Tyobeka (second from right) and other delegates and the launch of the Agri-Hub at the NWU Molelwane Farm on 3 March 2025. Foto: Facebook

“This recognition affirms the quality and impact of our teaching, research and partnerships. Initiatives such as our Agri-Hub in Mahikeng, the Living Lab for Sustainable Agriculture at Pienaarskamp in Potchefstroom, and the development of the Desmond Tutu School of Excellence demonstrate our commitment to innovation and societal impact. 

“As the North-West University, we remain focused on advancing excellence and contributing meaningfully to South Africa and the global community,” said NWU Mahikeng campus spokesperson Oscar Mosiane.

The latest rankings, particularly in these subject areas, are a good indication that NWU is heading in the right direction, said vice-chancellor Prof. Mzubanzi Bismark Tyobeka. These and other cross-sectoral projects reinforce the emphasis of the university on internationalisation, partnerships and societal impact, he said.

The NWU noted this year’s QS rankings provide a comparative analysis of more than 18,300 individual university programmes offered at over 1,500 institutions across 100 locations worldwide. The rankings span 55 academic disciplines and evaluate five broad faculty areas: Arts and Humanities, Engineering and Technology, Life Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences and Management.

Subject rankings are determined using five metrics comprising academic reputation, employer reputation, citations per paper, the h-index (measuring the impact and productivity of research output), and the International Research Network (IRN), which assesses the effectiveness of cross-border research collaboration.

The latest results also point to growth in global higher education, says senior vice-president of QS, Ben Sowter. “We are especially seeing significant momentum from systems across Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America.”

He added targeted investment in key disciplines is becoming central to how universities achieve international recognition. “Strategic investment in specific disciplines is becoming a defining feature of how universities gain international recognition.”

 OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi

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