UKZN Breaks into Top 2.5% of Global Universities in Major International Ranking
The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) has reaffirmed its position among the world’s leading institutions, securing a place in the top 2.5% of universities globally in the latest Center for World University Rankings (CWUR) Global 2000 list.
The prestigious ranking, one of the most comprehensive in the world, places UKZN 532nd out of 21,291 universities worldwide. Notably, the University’s strongest performance lies in employability, where it ranks an impressive 362nd globally. This highlights UKZN’s ability to prepare graduates who are highly competitive and sought after in the international job market.
CWUR evaluates universities using 81 million outcome-based data points, making it one of the few rankings that relies entirely on objective indicators. The methodology spans four key pillars: education, employability, faculty quality, and research, with no reliance on surveys or institutional submissions. Equal weighting is given to student- and faculty-related metrics, ensuring a balanced, data-driven assessment.
In addition to its overall global ranking, UKZN ranks 523rd worldwide in research performance and is among the top five universities in both South Africa and Africa.
Dr Normah Zondo, Executive Director of Corporate Relations at UKZN, congratulated the University community on this significant achievement. She described the milestone as a reflection of the institution’s resilience, academic excellence, and commitment to innovation.
“Breaking into the top 2.5% of more than 21,000 universities globally affirms UKZN’s standing as a world-class institution,” said Dr Zondo. “What makes this recognition particularly meaningful is that the CWUR rankings are based purely on objective, outcome-based data rather than self-reported surveys.”
She added that UKZN’s strong employability ranking sends a clear message about the value of its qualifications. “Our position at 362 globally for employability demonstrates that our graduates are equipped not only with theoretical knowledge but with the skills required to excel in the global workforce. We are proud to be developing future leaders, researchers, and innovators who will shape society both locally and internationally.”
The Center for World University Rankings is an internationally recognised consulting organisation that provides policy advice and strategic insights to governments and higher education institutions. Since its establishment in 2012, CWUR has published global university rankings that assess quality across education, employability, faculty excellence, and research output, without relying on surveys or institutional data submissions.
Originally launched as a project in Saudi Arabia’s Makkah Province to rank the world’s top 100 universities, CWUR quickly gained global recognition. The ranking expanded to include the top 1,000 institutions in 2014 and later grew to the current top 2,000 universities in 2019, making it the largest academic ranking of its kind.
Author: Sinegugu Ndlovu
Image: Supplied
