Palacký University has once again improved its position in one of the most prestigious international academic rankings, QS World University Ranking by Subject. In this year’s edition, UP has placed in six out of 48 monitored subjects, one more than in 2018. In Chemistry and Linguistics, UP has improved its positions compared to the previous year.
“Palacký University has extended the number of areas in science and education which placed in global professional rankings. While in 2017 UP placed in two subjects, this year it placed in six. I am also pleased to see further advancements in some of our disciplines. Our strategy aiming for increased competitiveness on the global scale seems to have borne fruit. At the same time, our university still has several reserves and a considerable potential in many other scientific disciplines. This is where we have to work harder,” said UP Rector, Jaroslav Miller.
QS World University Ranking by Subject 2019 evaluates global universities in 48 disciplines divided into five areas. Palacký University scored for the first time in the discipline Agriculture and Forestry, placing within the 251st to 300th positions. Within the country, only two Czech universities surpassed UP in this discipline: the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague (151st to 200th) and Masaryk University in Brno (201st to 250th). Sharing the same position as UP were Mendel University in Brno and the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice.
Compared to the previous year, UP improved in Linguistics and Chemistry. Placing within the 201st to 250th positions in Linguistics, UP is Czech number three after Charles University (101st–150th) and Masaryk University (201st–250th). In Chemistry, UP fell within the 401st to 450th positions, surpassed by Charles University, the Czech Academy of Sciences, and the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague. UP however left behind schools such as Masaryk University, the University of Pardubice, and the Czech Technical University in Prague.
Last year’s positions have been maintained in Modern Languages, placing 251st to 300th, and in Medicine, placing 451st to 500th. In the discipline Physics and Astronomy, UP scored within the 501st to 550th positions.
| Palacký unverisity Olomouc | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Placings in Czechia | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arts and Humanities | Liguistics | - | 251–300 | 201–250 | #3 |
| Modern Languages | - | 251–300 | 251–300 | #2 | |
| Life Sciences and Medicine | Agriculture and Forestry | - | - | 251–300 | #3 |
| Medicine | 451–500 | 451–500 | 451–500 | #3 | |
| Natural Sciences | Chemistry | - | 451–500 | 401–450 | #4 |
| Physics and Astronomy | 401–450 | 451–500 | 501–550 | #3 | |
Source: UP Strategy and Quality Control Office
“The QS Rankings by Subject is a newly applied form of comparing the performance of universities on the global scale, so we are pleased by the achievements of Palacký University. Apart from the expected placings in the natural sciences, UP also scored well in the humanities. This is proof of the fact that despite the current system of assessment concerning creative output, which is not set in an optimal way in regard to the humanities, our employees have managed to achieve significant success through their hard work, publications and other professional activities,” stated Hana Marešová, Vice-Rector for Strategic Planning and Quality Control.
The complete rankings are available here.