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New universities start to overthrow the old order
Oxbridge has regained its supremacy in the FT's rankings. But former polytechnics are beginning to challenge the status quo, writes Jim Kelly
 Today the UK's top "new universities", the former polytechnics, finally come of age. The third league table produced by the Financial Times confirms that the best of these new universities have started to overtake the stragglers among the old.
The table shows that the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen is the first to officially cast off the second-class status of the polytechnic sector, by rising above the University of Salford and Goldsmiths College, London. Next year, it is likely to be joined by others.
At second place in the table the 900-year-old Oxford University reclaims its elite position alongside Cambridge and pushes Imperial College, London, back into third place. The figures point to a photo-finish next year between the Oxbridge rivals, which are now separated by a single point.
The most spectacular rise in this year's table is that of the University of Nottingham, which jumps from 16th to seventh place. In 1998 it ranked 23rd in the table.
Bristol, Bath and Warwick universities also secured positions just behind Oxbridge and London's elite colleges. These universities can all claim the right to a place in Britain's own "Ivy League".
| Top 10 universities |
|
| 1 |
Cambridge (1) |
| 2 |
Oxford (3) |
| 3 |
Imperial (2) |
| 4 |
University College London (4) |
| 5 |
London School of Economics and Political Science (5) |
| 6 |
Bristol (7) |
| 7 |
Nottingham (16) |
| 8 |
Bath (8) |
| 9 |
Warwick (9) |
| 10 |
King's College London (12) |
|
| *Figures in brackets are revised 1999 rankings |
In the excitement of spotting new trends, it is easy to understate Cambridge's achievement in topping the FT's table for the third time in three years. The university led the pack in teaching, employment, percentage of postgraduate research students, A-level points required by applicants, and research. The future looks even more glittering, with the £83m joint venture with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology coming on stream and a new £40m alliance with Marconi.
But few would begrudge Professor Bill Stevely, principal and vice-chancellor of Robert Gordon University, a moment in the limelight. Along with the University of Westminster, Oxford Brookes, and the University of Hertfordshire, Robert Gordon mounted a strong challenge to be included alongside the old universities. Its position at number 55 should provide some compensation for its loss in its boat race against the University of Aberdeen, just a few miles away.
Robert Gordon has benefitted from many of the same factors that boosted the "new universities", despite a history that stretches back to 1750. This includes success in winning support from business and industry.
"We're delighted," says Prof Stevely. "We know what we are about - a vocational university interested in courses that lead to careers. We are unashamed about that. A very high proportion of our students go on placements."
Robert Gordon's strengths include oil and gas-related engineering, and health - the legacy of a long-established pharmacy school. Nearly 50 per cent of the university's £60m income comes from industry - a major factor in its strong league table performance. It is no surprise that Robert Gordon topped the list of universities ranked by the amount of funding they receive from industry.
| Top 10 former polytechnics |
|
| 56 |
The Robert Gordon University (55) |
| 58 |
The University of Westminster (57) |
| 59 |
Oxford Brookes University (69) |
| 60 |
University of Hertfordshire (60) |
| 61 |
The University of Greenwich (61) |
| 62 |
Sheffield Hallam University (68) |
| 63 |
Napier University (67) |
| 64 |
The Nottingham Trent University (70) |
| 65 |
The University of Portsmouth (66) |
| 66 |
De Montfort University (65) |
|
| *Figures in brackets are revised 1999 rankings |
Other outstanding performances are registered by the University of Sunderland, up from 92nd to 80th place almost entirely on the basis of a 58 per cent increase in industry funding, and Staffordshire University, which climbed from 90th place to 79th place on a similar increase in industry funding to £927,000.
St Andrew's University had a good year - rising from 26th place to 20th. Its ability to demand the best students helped it to break into the top 10 universities ranked by the A-Level points required of applicants. University College London also entered the top 10, though Durham and Sheffield dropped out.
Poor performances are often the result of an institution's inability to raise extra income, particularly for expenditure on computers. The University of Paisley dropped from 69th place to 93rd place as industry funding plunged 75 per cent, and computer spending fell 25 per cent.
The University of East Anglia also saw big drops in expenditure, including a 33 per cent fall in computer spending, and a 42 per cent fall in library expenditure.
| Top 10 provincial universities |
|
| 6 |
Bristol (7) |
| 7 |
Nottingham (16) |
| 8 |
Bath (8) |
| 9 |
Warwick (9) |
| 12 |
UMIST (13) |
| 14 |
York (11) |
| 15 |
Birmingham (15) |
| 16 |
Leeds (18) |
| 18 |
Manchester (23) |
| 19 |
Southampton (17) |
|
| *Figures in brackets are revised 1999 rankings |
Last year we judged universities against 13 criteria rather than the 16 used this year and in 1998. In order to compare like with like we have adjusted last year's table to reflect the full 16 criteria. All references to relative movements therefore rely on the adjusted table for 1999. The table does not include financial data on colleges - a factor that Oxford is keen for the FT to introduce next year.
Oxford's strong performance in this year's table reflects a range of factors, including an increase in funding from industry, and greater expenditure on computers and libraries. It will surprise those who see it as losing ground to Cambridge, which has secured a series of high-profile alliances.
Professor Colin Lucas, vice-chancellor at Oxford, has overseen a complete restructuring of the university's governance, and has forged a series of alliances with a range of partners.
"I think that to be a great international university, you've got to be broad based," he says. He dismisses criticism that Oxford is lacking in enthusiasm for the new economy by pointing to vibrant internet spin- offs, and several start-ups by Oxford graduates. "Our students are well in - I'm not worried about that," he says. "But what's important is that higher education is about preparing people for a lifetime. We must aim to produce people able to make decisions, able to get and process complex information, and teach them how not to be overawed by fashion and the clamour of voices. Businesses and employers recognise [these] as the crucial issues."
For the first time this year's league table includes a measure of the employability of students derived from a special survey of graduate recruiters. It confirms that the market's view of Oxford and Cambridge is still high.
We awarded points for those universities targeted by employers. Cambridge led with 153 points, Oxford scored 122, Imperial 79, Manchester 72, Leeds 67, Warwick 63 and University of Manchester Institute of Sciences 60.
Nottingham University, this year's most notable high riser in the league table, scored 57 points. Its rapid rise was due, in part, to a 224 per cent increase in computer spending, and a 78 per cent increase in income from industry. Professor Sir Colin Campbell, Nottingham's vice-chancellor, is at the forefront of moves to forge a new funding framework for British universities, which would allow them to charge fees related to market pressures.
Nottingham is also keen to secure its position in the emerging group of international players. It is a leading member of Universitas 21, an international alliance. Meanwhile, the university's links with industry remain vital.
It is also popular, ranking third in terms of applications to places, behind Bristol and London School of Economics, and just ahead of the Bath, Sheffield and City universities.
But Sir Colin realises this is not just for academic reasons. "There is a wonderful social life here," he says. "It's about much more than swotting. The campus is lovely and the clubs are great."
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