Universities from mainland China have broken into a global top 100 index in an annual ranking for the first time as Harvard retained its No 1 spot for the 14th consecutive year. China’s prestigious Tsinghua University was 58th, beating Peking University in 71st place, in the Academic Ranking of World Universities compiled by the independent Shanghai Ranking Consultancy. Despite the improved rating of China’s universities, major concerns remain about academic freedom under the leadership of president Xi Jinping. The National University of Singapore also entered the top 100 for the first time, tying for 83rd. Princeton University was sixth again, with another three US institutions – the California Institute of Technology, Columbia University and the University of Chicago in places eight to 10.

Source: The Guardian August 15, 2016 05:03 UTC