Invitation: Support UCT’s QS Reputation Rankings

Dear researchers

We need your assistance.

Annually, the University of Cape Town (UCT) is presented with the chance to nominate academic peers and employers of our graduates for inclusion in the reputation survey that is an integral part of the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings (WUR). While our university's success is not solely dependent on rankings, we firmly believe in showcasing excellence in diverse ways, which includes rankings. These rankings offer valuable opportunities, particularly in terms of recruiting promising students, as well as attracting funding and potential collaborators. Rankings are often criticised because the supporting reputation surveys tend to be biased towards the Global North and indeed the reputation metrics are those where UCT does not fare too well, along with many otherwise highly ranked institutions from the Global South. Through this request, we have an opportunity to correct that.

As part of UCT’s participation in the QS WUR 2026, we are requested to provide a list of senior academic peers and graduate employers. These peers and employers will be contacted and invited to participate in the upcoming QS Academic and Employer Reputation Survey. While the academic reputation survey now comprises 30% of the total points by which a university is ranked, the employer survey comprises a further 15%. Together, they are crucial to our overall place in the QS world rankings.

We are asking for your help in providing contact information of international peers that you collaborate with or who will be familiar with your research expertise and hence readily acknowledge UCT as an institution where excellent research and teaching is being produced.

I therefore kindly request that you complete this online form by 13 December 2024, or as soon as possible.

With thanks

Professor Jeff Murugan
Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Internationalisation

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