The University of Aberdeen's ambition to become one of the country's leading universities was massively boosted today with the publication of a league table ranking Aberdeen third in the UK's top "knowledge-based" cities. Aberdeen has been ranked third above Cambridge and Oxford, and only behind Inner and Outer London, as reported in today's Times Higher.
The league table devised by researchers at Cardiff University, as described by The Times Higher, "reveals the economic clout of higher education working with key industries". The index was worked out by measuring the level of activity in and around the cities in "knowledge-intensive services", including education, research, health, software, finance and media, as well as high-tech industries such as computing, electronics, aerospace and automotive engineering.
Principal C Duncan Rice said that this recognition strengthens Aberdeen's competitive position and would help it to continue to attract outstanding scholars, students and research income.
He said: "The investment made in our academic quality and our successes in raising private and public sector support is reflected by Aberdeen's outstanding ranking as a knowledge-based city. This index reflects the hard work and commitment shown by all in Aberdeen.
"The University of Aberdeen is itself a significant element in the North-East economy. The region looks to us to provide the type and quality of graduate that its modern economy demands. No less fundamental is for us to continue to be a centre of excellence in research and to provide industry with the very best in expert advice. Additionally, we are taking more of the research we do on to commercial application, to develop new industries by forming spin-out companies and to continue to build this region's research base. "
Professor Dominic Houlihan, Vice Principal for Research and Commercialisation, who actively promotes the commercialisation of the University's extensive research programme, said: "The University has a long-established reputation as a centre of excellence in fields such as medicine and the life sciences, engineering, law and the humanities. Our aim at the University is to connect with business who can benefit from our research excellence and I am delighted that our efforts have been recognised by Aberdeen's high ranking."
The University of Aberdeen has recently launched a £9million investment programme to ensure that the Institution maintains its position as one of Britain's leading research-led Universities and that Aberdeen remains one of the strongest research communities in the UK.