The Times Higher Education (THE) has released its 150 Under 50 Rankings for 2016. It ranks the top 150 universities under 50 years old, and places JCU at 38th place.

James Cook University’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Sandra Harding said JCU’s inclusion is very pleasing.

“As the THE explains, the ranking provides a glimpse into the future, showcasing not those institutions with centuries of history, but the rising stars of the university sector that show great potential,” Prof Harding said.

According to the THE, the ranking applies performance indicators across five broad areas of teaching, research, citations, international outlook, and industry income, with the results calibrated to reflect the special characteristics of younger universities.

“JCU became a University in 1970, and since then we have become one of the world's leading institutions focused on the tropics. We have built a strong, global reputation as a research-intensive university that is making a difference for the communities we serve,” Prof Harding said.

Times Higher Education rankings’ editor, Phil Baty said: “The 150 Under 50 ranking is led by young, exciting and dynamic institutions.”

The THE is one of the best known global rankings, along with the prestigious Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU).

For the past six years, ARWU has ranked JCU in the 301-400 group of universities. Over that time, JCU has improved its position, while the number of recognised higher education institutions has increased from 10,000 to more than 18,000, placing JCU in the top 2% of universities worldwide.