Similar to last year, Vilnius University is the best in Lithuania. It ranks number 18 in the region (21 last year). Meanwhile, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VGTU) is the second of the best two in the country. It moved two positions up and now ranks 41 in the regional ranking. VGTU is considered the best technical university in the country. Since 2014, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University gained 6 places. Over the 4 considered years, the institution moved up 3 times and demonstrates stable improvement.
“Two Lithuanian universities have been demonstrating solid results since 2014 and are not only well placed among the top 50 in the region, but also are gaining better ranking positions every year. We must take into account that this ranking is based on a large number of criteria, and the number of ranked universities is larger every year; thus, the success of the university is based on constant improvement, targeted allocation of resources, and particular attention to quality of studies and research. Another important aspect is that Lithuanian universities are competing in the region with extremely small financing as compared with other countries in the region, and, according to the OECD, costs per one student are very different from the OECD’s average: situation in Estonia, Poland, Slovenia, Russia and other countries in the region is much better than in Lithuania,” sais VGTU Rector Prof. Dr. Alfonsas Daniūnas.
Data used in the QS Regional ranking is similar to the QS World University ranking. The criteria for universities’ ranking in the Emerging Europe and Central Asia 2018 covered reputation among academics, reputation among employers, faculty / student ratio, number of scientific publications (Scopus database), web impact (Webometrics ranking), citation index (Scopus database), staff with PhD, percent of international faculty and students.
