The University is up two positions from 2016.

The leading three institutions – MSU, MIPT, and MEPhI – have kept their positions.

The biggest progress shown by Russian universities this year has been in globally indexed publications (plus 44%) and citations per faculty (plus 66%).

Economics and management-focused institutions have shown the most positive dynamics. Their alumni earn 28% more than their peers from other universities of the Top 30.

Director of the KFU Prospective Development Center Ilya Kuzmishin commented that classical regional universities face the most hardships in rankings advancement because RAEX methodology relies heavily on employer reputation (30% weight in the integrated score), and Top 600 surveyed employers mostly represent Moscow, Saint-Petersburg, and Uralic and Siberian industrial centers. Mr. Kuzmishin also noted that KFU placed 10th in research this year.

He and Vice-Rector Marat Safiullin visited Moscow where the rankings were unveiled at the Global Competitiveness forum. Among other things, online courses were mentioned as one of the important tools of global advancement. Leading Russian universities have pledged to convert all their courses (except those of special authorship) to the online programs.

Innovation, student entrepreneurship, and technology transfer were also among the raised topics. Universities were asked to gradually assume the role of innovation hubs in their regions.

Publication quality was also the center of attention. As Mr. Kuzmishin told us, “The extensive growth phase has passed. Project 5-100 universities, in particular, have shown 45% growth in publication quantity, but citations are only up 16% in the same timeframe. The main focus now should be raising publication quality. We need to publish in 1st and 2nd quartile journals in order to become competitive”.