The University of Havana (UH), Cuba's leading institution for higher education, has seen a significant decline in its academic reputation. It has fallen from 467th place in 2023 to 691st in the QS World University Rankings for 2024. This drop of over 200 positions was determined by the renowned British firm after evaluating factors such as academic citations per faculty, academic reputation, employment opportunities, international student enrollment, and international research networks, among others.
The top spots in the ranking are held by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Imperial College London, and the University of Oxford. In Latin America, the leaders are the University of Buenos Aires, the University of São Paulo, the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (UC), and the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). On a continental level, UH stands at 33rd place.
Founded on January 5, 1728, the University of Havana is the oldest in Cuba and one of the earliest established in the Americas. Currently, it has an enrollment of 13,471 students. Compared to its previous results, UH has dropped significantly in nearly all evaluated quality aspects, while other universities in the region have advanced.
In 2020, UH made it into the list of the top 500 universities for the first time, according to the QS World University Rankings. Two years later, it improved by 43 positions compared to the previous year, reaching the 467th spot. The annual ranking by the British consultancy Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) has become a benchmark for students and professors alike regarding the academic performance of universities worldwide.
Another ranking, the SCImago Institutions Rankings 2024, published in May, also highlighted the poor results of Cuban higher education. In that case, the best-positioned institution in the country was the Havana University of Medical Sciences, which ranked 203rd, followed by the University of Havana (322nd), the Central University of Las Villas (394th), the University of Oriente (399th), and the University of Cienfuegos (416th).
Understanding the University of Havana's Ranking Decline
Below are some questions and answers to help understand the significant drop in the University of Havana's ranking and its implications.
What factors contributed to the University of Havana's decline in the QS World University Rankings?
The decline was due to a range of factors including a decrease in academic citations per faculty, a drop in academic reputation, fewer employment opportunities for graduates, lower international student enrollment, and weaker international research networks.
How does the University of Havana compare to other Latin American universities?
In Latin America, the University of Havana ranks lower than leading institutions such as the University of Buenos Aires, the University of São Paulo, the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, and the National Autonomous University of Mexico. On the continent, UH is positioned at 33rd place.
What is the historical significance of the University of Havana?
The University of Havana, founded on January 5, 1728, is the oldest university in Cuba and one of the first in the Americas. It has a long history of contributing to higher education in the region.
What other rankings reflect the performance of Cuban universities?
The SCImago Institutions Rankings 2024 also reflect the performance of Cuban universities, highlighting the Havana University of Medical Sciences as the best-positioned institution in the country, followed by the University of Havana, the Central University of Las Villas, the University of Oriente, and the University of Cienfuegos.