Waterloo on the rise in QS rankings

Waterloo has improved its showing in the annual QS World University Rankings, rising through the ranks of the top 200 schools worldwide to reach 180th overall, up from 191st in 2012.

The rankings, published by UK firm Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), saw Waterloo leapfrog other Canadian universities like McGill and University of British Columbia in the Engineering and Technology faculty area for the first time. In the engineering ranking, Waterloo ranked 46th, the second-highest in Canada, up from 57th position last year.

In other faculty areas, all results are up over last year:

• Arts and Humanities - 271st, up from "no rank";
• Life Sciences & Medicine - 338th, up from 351st;
• Natural Sciences - 109th, up from 119th; and
• Social Sciences and Management - 188th, up from 359th.

“These rankings traditionally favour long-established institutions with medical schools. Our strong ranking this year is a clear sign that our focus on excellence in research along with experiential learning is delivering exceptional quality graduates that employers covet,” said Feridun Hamdullahpur. “We have set a clear goal to be one of the top innovation universities in the world, these results indicate we are on the right path.”

The QS ranking is the only major international ranking compiler that takes into account the views of graduate employers. The results show that Waterloo ranks among the top 100 universities in the world with the employers surveyed by QS – fourth amongst Canadian schools.

Waterloo is the 7th highest-ranked Canadian university out of 25 institutions that made it into the top 200.

Released in September, the rankings are published by consulting firm Quacquarelli Symonds, providing a ranking of approximately 700 universities based on six indicators that each carry a weighting that impacts the overall institutional score.

In terms of top Canadian institutions, this year saw the University of Toronto vault past McGill University to become the highest-ranked Canadian university in the list. McGill had occupied the top spot each year since 2004.

As Maclean's magazine notes, several Canadian universities made gains in the latest ranking - Simon Fraser University jumped 38 spots, Montreal climbed 22 spots, Calgary and Ottawa both improved by 13 spots, the University of Alberta and McMaster rose by 12 spots.

Waterloo's 11-spot increase stands in contrast to Western University's 26-spot decline, Victoria's 22-spot drop, and Queen's 14-spot slip.

A ranking program like QS tends to reward well-established comprehensive universities with strong science programs and highly productive research staff, whose researchers publish in English. The QS ranking, in particular, heavily emphasizes reputational surveys, which comprise 50 per cent of the overall results. Results of any reputational survey are highly dependent on the characteristics of the survey respondents. QS does not share their sampling strategy, but reports that when sampling is required, respondents are selected randomly “with a focus on balance by discipline and geography”.

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United Way KW campaign to launch on campus

"Join us as we celebrate with our local United Way — one of the many ways the University of Waterloo proudly gives back to our community!" says an invitation to community members sent out in August by President Feridun Hamdullahpur.

Hamdullahpur, along with Vice-President, University Relations Tim Jackson, who is the United Way Kitchener Waterloo Campaign Champion, and Jan Varner, the CEO of United Way Kitchener Waterloo, are inviting members of the campus community to join them in celebration of the United Way Kitchener Waterloo 2013 Campaign Launch on Friday, September 20 at 8:00 a.m. in Engineering 5's Student Design Centre.

Registration for the event is required, and refreshments will be provided.

A United Way representative and members of the University of Waterloo's campaign will be at a booth in the Student Life Centre's Vendors Alley from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. today. "Come learn how each dollar raised makes a difference in our community and find out the many ways you can make a donation today by visiting the United Way Campaign website."

The 2013 University of Waterloo United Way Campaign officially launches on October 1, but, as the organizers say, it’s never too early to make a contribution.

The United Way Committee is also looking for volunteers. If you are interested in getting involved, contact unitdway@uwaterloo.ca.

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Staff member publishes novel

Members of the campus community are invited to celebrate the launch of Pam Fluttert's book Until Today at Fundamentals Books in Stratford at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 14th.

Fluttert is a longtime staff member in Information Systems & Technology (IST) and a Waterloo alum.

The novel, published by Second Story Press, is a portrait of loss, betrayal, and courage in the face of sexual abuse. Due to the nature of the story, it is recommended for readers ages 13 and up. "The key to tackling child sexual abuse, or any abuse, as a society is education," writes Fluttert. "Although fictional, this book provides an understanding of how perpetrators control their victims and the effects of the abuse on the victims. It’s critical that victims realize they aren’t isolated and alone, and what they are feeling is normal for somebody in this situation."

Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the launch event on Saturday. Pam is also selling copies of the book directly and can be contacted via email.

For more information, visit Pam’s website.

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Notes, notes and more notes

The Federation of Students held a grand opening for their International News store in the Student Life Centre on Monday, September 9. Attendees were treated to cake and cupcakes after a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Feds announced that International News will be open 24/7. The store provides the University community with an array of snacks, beverages and toiletries. Pictured at left cutting the ribbon is Federation of Students Vice-President, Operations and Finance, Natasha Pozega (photo courtesy of the Federation of Students).

The second phase of the nitrogen tank installation at the Mike & Ophelia Lazaridis is scheduled for today between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., which means that by the time you read this, most of the work will have been completed (fingers crossed!). During the installation, both the parking lot in front of the quantum-nano centre and the loading dock will be unavailable, and pedestrians should be aware that there will be trucks, cranes, and tanks involved in the operation.

Registration has opened for Waterloo Staff Yoga Sessions, which will be held on Wednesdays or Fridays from 12:05 p.m. to 12:55 p.m. Classes are $10. Fore more information or to register please contact Sandra Gibson.

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