While global rankings dominate headlines, African university rankings criticism has been growing. Many argue the problems with global university rankings highlight how global standards vs African context often clash.
This leaves Africa’s real challenges in higher education invisible.
Rankings rely on research published in a narrow set of Western journals, which account for only about 5% of global knowledge production. According to UNESCO, Africa produces less than 1% of global research output, despite being home to 12.5% of the world’s population.
For African universities, that means groundbreaking studies on issues like mobile money in Kenya, housing in Lagos, or bilharzia in the DRC often don’t “count” – even though they matter most to the continent.
That’s why critics say global rankings can paint an incomplete, and sometimes unfair, picture of African higher education. Let’s unpack this.
What are the most commonly used global university rankings?
The “big three” are:
- Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings
- QS World University Rankings
- Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), also known as the Shanghai Rankings
All three use indicators like research output, international collaboration, teaching reputation, and citations. While these factors make sense globally, they often don’t capture local relevance. For example, how well a university addresses regional development challenges.
Why are African universities often ranked lower?
African institutions face two big hurdles:
- Metrics bias: Global rankings reward publishing in elite journals, many of which overlook Africa-specific topics.
- Resource constraints: Universities in Africa often deal with underfunding, large student populations, and fewer research facilities compared to wealthier nations.
This means even strong African universities appear “lower” in rankings. Not because they lack impact, but because the ranking system doesn’t measure what matters here.
How rankings shape international perceptions
University World News has often reported on African universities. This creates an injustice in academic rankings, where institutions producing vital knowledge for local contexts are dismissed in favour of Western-centric measures.
Rankings shape global perceptions, influencing student choices, academic partnerships, and even funding opportunities. A university ranked highly will attract more international students and collaborations.
The downside? Lower-ranked African universities risk being unfairly labelled as “inferior.” Even when they produce vital research or provide excellent teaching in local contexts.
How does REGENT Business School respond to global ranking systems?
REGENT Business School, like many private African institutions, recognises the limitations of global rankings.
Instead of chasing university rankings in international tables, the school emphasises practical, career-focused education aligned with African development needs.
Their approach highlights a bigger point. Which is that not all universities aim to compete in research-heavy global frameworks. Some measure success by graduate employability, innovation, or entrepreneurship. These are things rankings don’t always capture.
What role should context play in evaluating education quality?
Context is everything. For Africa, quality should also be measured by:
- Relevance of research to local and regional challenges.
- Access and equity — how many students can realistically afford and access education.
- Impact on communities, economies, and industries.
In short: Education quality in Africa can’t be judged only by international publications and citations. It must be tied to how well universities serve the continent’s unique needs.
This is why many academics call for decolonising education metrics. Shifting from Western frameworks toward measures that reflect Africa’s realities and ambitions.
Is the University of Johannesburg ranked number 1 in Africa?
No, the University of Johannesburg (UJ) is not ranked number 1 in Africa. At a Times Higher Education (THE) summit held in Johannesburg back in 2015, UJ made it into the Top 15 African universities list, but the number one spot went to the University of Cape Town (UCT).
Interestingly, while UJ gained visibility by hosting the event, many critics pointed out that these rankings didn’t involve the continent’s key higher education bodies. In other words, the list raised more eyebrows than applause.
What is the best-ranking university in Africa?
According to Times Higher Education, UCT often ranks as the best university in Africa. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best at solving African challenges.
Rankings reward universities that publish in global journals. This captures only about 5% of the world’s research output, mostly from Western countries. So, issues central to Africa (such as agriculture, public health, or urban development) are rarely reflected in those scores.
This raises the question: should “the best university” be the one that ranks highly globally, or the one that produces research and graduates that truly transform African societies?
How do they rank universities in South Africa?
University rankings are mostly based on:
- Research output (papers published in international journals)
- Citations (how often those papers are referenced)
- Teaching quality
- International outlook (partnerships, exchange students, global staff)
While these metrics sound good, they don’t fully capture the African context. For example, a groundbreaking study on bilharzia in the DRC or child soldiers in conflict zones might never make it into journals that matter to ranking systems. Even though the work is critical for Africa.
What is UCT ranked in Africa?
UCT usually holds the #1 spot in Africa across most global ranking systems. In the THE summit’s 2015 list, it led the pack again, followed by other South African universities like Wits and Stellenbosch.
But other strong universities, especially French- and Portuguese-speaking ones, were left out altogether. That leaves big questions about fairness and inclusivity in these rankings.
What is South Africa ranked in education?
South Africa performs relatively well compared to the rest of Africa in university rankings. Globally, however, it still struggles to break into the world’s top 100 universities.
This isn’t due to a lack of talent — it’s more about the yardsticks being used. Rankings prioritise Western measures of success, which don’t always line up with African realities.
Which country has the best education system in Africa?
When it comes to higher education, South Africa often leads the way. With UCT, Wits, and Stellenbosch making frequent appearances on global lists.
But if you look at primary and secondary education, some argue that countries like Kenya, Mauritius, and Tunisia have stronger systems. It really depends on whether you’re talking about early education, higher education, or research capacity.
Is education in South Africa good or bad?
It’s a bit of both. South Africa has some of the strongest universities on the continent. Many of which produce globally respected research. But access and quality remain uneven.
For many South Africans, basic education is under strain. This is due to:
- Underfunded schools
- Overcrowded classrooms
- Inequality makes it hard for everyone to reach university level
At the university level, the picture is brighter: South Africa is home to Africa’s most consistently ranked institutions. But again, those rankings tell only part of the story.
The real question is whether universities are preparing students to solve African problems, and that’s where the focus needs to be.
Final thoughts
Sure, rankings capture headlines. But they often overlook the real work of building strong African higher education systems. For Africa, success should be measured by how universities serve and drive transformation.
As Thabo Mbeki said during that 2015 summit, Africa should be strengthening its universities not for global applause, but to meet the needs of its people. And that means focusing less on rankings and more on relevance.
REGENT’s programmes are dedicated to strengthening South Africa as a whole. Our qualifications can help you succeed in the South African and international workforce. Have a look at our various undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
