About the University Ranking by Academic Performance (URAP)

The University Ranking by Academic Performance (URAP) is a global ranking system that assesses and ranks higher education institutions (HEIs) based on academic quality and performance. URAP aims to assist universities in identifying areas for improvement in specific academic performance indicators. The system is continuously evolving, with the rankings being regularly updated based on continuous research and feedback from different stakeholders.

Methodology

The Uni Ranking by Academic Performance (URAP) methodology involves the following key steps:

• Data Collection
URAP gathers data from Web of Science and InCites, focusing on higher education institutions (HEIs) with the highest number of publications. Initial consideration was given to 3,000 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
• Data Processing
After data collection, the information undergoes pre-processing and data-cleaning to ensure reliability. Statistical analysis is performed to address skewed distributions in the bibliometric data.
• Ranking Indicators
URAP uses six academic performance indicators to evaluate HEIs. These indicators include the following: article (current scientific productivity), citation (research impact), total document (scientific productivity), article impact total (research quality), citation impact total (research quality), and international collaboration (international acceptance).
• Scoring
The total score of 600 is distributed among the indicators based on a set of weighting scores assigned through the Delphi system. Each indicator receives a percentage of the total score, with weights assigned as follows: Article (21%), Total Document (10%), Citation (21%), Article Impact Total (18%), Citation Impact Total (15%), and International Collaboration (15%).
• Objective and Coverage
The indicators serve objectives such as measuring scientific productivity, research impact, research quality and international acceptance. The coverage of the data spans specific years, providing a snapshot of the academic performance during those periods.
• Expert Involvement
The Delphi system involves a group of experts who assign weighting scores to the indicators, contributing to the transparency and robustness of the ranking system.

SMUs performance
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) has exhibited commendable progress in the URAP rankings, showcasing a notable improvement in the 2023/2024 academic year compared to the previous year. In the 2022/2023 rankings, SMU was ranked at number 19 in South Africa, with a global rank of 3041. However, in the subsequent academic year, 2023/2024, SMU has significantly advanced, securing the 16th position in South Africa, accompanied by a substantially improved global rank of 2229 and an overall score of 157.97.

In his remarks, Prof. Marvey, Director for Institutional Planning indicated that this noteworthy progress indicates SMU’s dedication to academic excellence and its successful efforts to enhance its standing globally.