For the first time in its history, Riga Technical University (RTU) has been included in the influential international rating The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2016-17, which has particularly appreciated the cooperation RTU maintains with entrepreneurs and industry. The rating lists the best world universities, ranking them on the basis of their achievements in education, research, cooperation with the industry, and internationalization.
RTU Rector Academician Leonid Ribickis pointed out, «RTU is a technology university, thus cooperation with entrepreneurs is of particular significance, as there is an urgent necessity to commercialize and launch for manufacturing innovative products developed by RTU researchers both in Latvia and abroad. This rating is a sign that RTU has been ranked among the best universities in the world and that it is open for cooperation with the industry. The university focusing on engineering and advanced technologies should together with the industry take responsibility for the development of the national economy. We are proud that exactly this RTU development pillar has been ranked highly by the prestigious international rating.»
Within the rating, cooperation with the industry is assessed considering the revenue the university has generated from knowledge and technology transfer. RTU cooperation with the industry results in new products that are launched onto the market, RTU researchers also establish their own enterprises, which commercialize innovations created by the scientists. RTU Advisory Council is one of the platforms where RTU cooperates with entrepreneurs. Managers of the Latvian enterprises take part in the work of the Board, providing expert advice to RTU administration and helping to determine strategic directions of university development in accordance with the needs of the national economy.
RTU has been ranked in 800+ position. Phil Baty, the editor of Times Higher Education World University Rankings, stressed, «There are understood to be more than 20,000 higher education institutions in the world, so to feature among the 980 universities ranked by Times Higher Education is in itself a great achievement – demonstrating membership of a small, global elite.»
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings is one of the most prominent university ratings. This year, Oxford University has been raked No 1. Riga Technical University and the University of Latvia have been ranked in 800+ group.
RTU has been also highly ranked within other prestigious international ratings. International university rating QS Stars highly evaluated RTU education quality, employability of the graduates and internationalization. At the same time, RTU contribution to promotion of energy efficiency, sustainability and environment protection has been appraised by the Green Metric World University Ranking on Sustainability. In 2015, RTU received the highest ranking among all Latvian universities.
