Birzeit University retains lead of Palestinian institutions in 2020-2021 URAP metrics

Birzeit University has been ranked as the foremost higher education institution in Palestine according to the recently released 2020-2021 University Ranking by Academic Performance (URAP), published by the Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey. 

The ranking, published annually, is based on six indicators that, combined, present a comprehensive assessment of the academic prowess and quality of higher education institutions worldwide. 

For its 2020-2021 edition, URAP has collected data on 3,000 academic institutions, ranking them on research productivity, citations received by faculty members, the total number of documents published which contribute to scientific progress, research productivity compared to other international institutions, citations received compared to other international institutions, and the extent to which an institution collaborates on research projects internationally. 

Not only has Birzeit University maintained its lead among Palestinian institutions, but it has also risen in ranks when compared to other universities, both regionally and internationally. The university ranks 44th among the 130 Arab-world universities present in URAP 2020-2021, which constitutes a jump of seven positions in the rankings. Similarly, the university has bolstered its international presence, rising 239 places to secure the 1,413th position among 3,000 institutions. 

This rise in international rankings is the result of a university-wide push to increase research and international cooperation amid unprecedented challenges to education worldwide due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The university’s students, staff, and faculty are joining efforts to maintain and improve teaching, learning, and research across all fields and disciplines. 

Recently, two of Birzeit University’s professors were ranked among the 100,000 most-cited researchers globally in 2019, and three other researchers were recognized as some of the most prolific in their fields. The university has launched four new graduate programs in public and private law, international migration and refugee studies, and computer engineering, in addition to a new undergraduate program in international relations. 

The 2020-2021 URAP results cement Birzeit University’s position as the leading Palestinian educational institution and serve as a testament to the university’s role in advancing science and humanities locally, regionally, and internationally.