EECA: 9 Interesting Facts From the 2016 QS University Rankings by Region

It’s been two years since the first edition of the QS University Rankings by Region: EECA (Emerging Europe Central Asia), yet the region has seen a lot of change within its HE system in this short space of time.This year’s ranking includes 200 universities – 50 more than last year – from across 21 different nations. Here are nine interesting findings from our latest release to take away:

1. Russia’s universities once again rule the regional rankings

• All the top three places are taken by Russian universities.
• 64 Russian universities feature in this ranking, more than any other nation.
• Within the top 100, Russia’s biggest riser is the National University of Science and Technology (MISIS), which jumps a huge 12 places to 63^rd.

2. Turkey holds its own

• Turkey has drawn level with Russia, boasting five top 20 universities in the rankings.
• Turkey’s highest ranked university is Bogaziçi Üniversitesi, which has climbed eight places since last year, coming in 9^th.
• Bilkent University, Sabanci University, Middle East Technical University, and Koç University all feature in the top 20.
• Turkey has the second highest number of universities in the ranking after Russia.

3. Poland makes it into the top 10

• Two Polish universities are ranked in the top 10: The University of Warsaw, 6^th, and Jagiellonian University, 7^th.
• Warsaw University of Technology has risen six places, placing it in the top 20.
• A total of 15 Polish universities are featured in this year’s ranking, placing Poland in 4^th place when it comes to largest national representation.
• Two more Polish universities have been added since last year: the University of Bialystock and the University of Rzeszów.

4. Lithuania slips from the top 20

• Vilnius University slips out of the top 20, meaning Lithuania loses its hold on the leader board.
• A similar picture emerges in the top 50, Kaunas University of Technology loses one place, moving to 51^st.
• Seven Lithuanian universities feature in this year’s EECA university rankings – two more than last year.

5. Kazakhstan breaks into the top 20

• Al-Farabi Kazakh National University climbs 10 places this year, putting it straight into the top 20: a first for the country.
• Within the top 50, two other universities in Kazakhstan are featured: L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University and Kazakh National Technical University.
• 18 Kazakh universities are featured this year, making this country the third most-represented in the EECA Ranking

6. A strong year for Hungary

• Five Hungarian universities are among the region’s top 50 in this year’s rankings.
• Once again, The University of Szeged remains the country’s top ranked institution.
• Budapest University of Technology and Economics climbs 10 places to 22^nd, but Eotvos Lorand University drops 11 places to 27^th.
• Hungary has eight universities in the published ranking.

7. Bulgaria triples its representation

• Thanks to the expansion of the ranking, Bulgaria now has three times as many institutions featured.
• Sofia University is still the highest ranked institution, coming in in the top 50.
• The American University in Bulgaria and Trakia University are the two newcomers, both entering the top 200.

8. The Czech Republic is among the region’s elite

• Three Czech universities are among the top 10 this year.
• Charles University is the highest ranked, coming in 4^th.
• In 7^th place is the Czech Technical University in Prague, and Masaryk University comes in 10^th.
• 12 universities from The Czech Republic are featured, an increase of five for this year’s release.

9. Belarus & Azerbaijan struggle

• Belarus holds the same number of universities in the top 100 as it did last year: two.
• However, both institutions have fallen in the rankings: Belarus State University is down three places to 29^th and The Belarusian National Technical University slides eight places to 80^th.
• In Azerbaijan, Khazar University remains its highest ranked institution but drops from 67^th to 68^th.
• Baku State University drops five places and is now ranked 88^th.
• Qafqaz University also falls from 78^th to 89^th.

For the full picture, and a look at the methodology, explore the full rankings: