For the first time in history, a Ghent University department reaches top-10 (9th) in the Academic Ranking of World Universities, better known as the Shanghai Ranking. In this ranking, the scientific quality of sports research groups from over 400 universities was compared. The best 300 were published on their website. The score is based on the research output of the Department of Movement and Sports Sciences (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences).
Crucial criteria for this ranking were the number of high level publications, the amount of citations by others and the level of international collaboration. In total, Ghent University ended 62nd in 2016. Many members of the Department are working at the Sport Science Laboratory – Jacques Rogge, which opened last year. This lab is seen as a state-of-the-art research facility in the domains of biomechanics, motor control, exercise physiology and sports nutrition. You can download the sports lab leaflet here.
In addition, the QS World University Rankings (Sports related subjects) have recently been announced. Out of many, the first 100 institutes were published. The Department is ranked here on the 41st place. Criteria leading to these results differ greatly with those from the Shanghai Ranking. Besides citations, it takes into account many other factors such as academic and employer reputation. Based on the figures, the Department of Movement and Sports Sciences scores better than many other groups within the university, and therefore can be seen as a focus point within our organization. Moreover, it is one of few Ghent based departments that is placed Top-50. All of this makes clear Ghent University plays an important role in the global sports science community, with plenty of opportunities for innovation and industrial research collaborations.