KINGSTON, Jamaica — The University of the West Indies (UWI) has risen to the top three per cent of universities worldwide, according to the latest Times Higher Education (THE) rankings, widely regarded as the gold standard in global higher education assessments.

In the latest release of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, only 2,191 universities from 115 countries met the criteria for inclusion. The rankings evaluate institutional performance across teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook.

UWI reported that it continues to improve its relative standing even as the global pool of universities expands. The institution now ranks within the top 3.6 per cent of more than 33,000 universities worldwide.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles attributed the achievement to the university’s disciplined focus on its strategic plan.

“We continue to adhere steadfastly to our strategic plan, which has proven to be an expert guide that keeps us focused on building out our intellectual productivity, scholastic brand and global partnership profile. The results merely indicate the output of our considerable collective input,” Beckles said.

He noted that, compared with the previous year, the results show that UWI scholars have significantly improved the quality of their research, leading to greater recognition and impact of academic publications and presentations.

Beckles also emphasised that the university continues to perform beyond expectations despite ongoing fiscal constraints.

“I am very proud of this inter‑generational achievement, as we look to The UWI’s centenary in 2048,” he said.