This year, Times Higher Education (THE) introduced its Online Learning Rankings, the first global assessment of universities’ activities in online education. With higher education institutions grouped into three categories (Gold, Silver, and Bronze), the University of Szeged earned the highest distinction, a Gold rating, standing out as the only institution in Hungary to receive this prestigious recognition.
THE’s new ranking lists the University of Szeged among the best
Times Higher Education (THE) has recently unveiled its Online Learning Rankings, spotlighting the quality and excellence of universities’ online education offerings. In this new international listing, the University of Szeged achieved the highest distinction, a Gold rating, making it the only institution in Hungary to earn this honor. Worldwide, only 11 universities were placed in the Gold category, with the University of Szeged ranking alongside renowned institutions such as Arizona State University (Tempe) in the United States, and the University of Essex and the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom.
The metrics behind THE’s new rankings
THE’s Online Learning Rankings provide an assessment of the world’s higher education institutions based on a combination of data from student surveys (28%) and institutional submissions (72%). This information is analyzed to measure universities’ excellence in online education across four key areas:
• Resources devoted to online learning (35%)
• Level of student engagement in online learning (25%)
• Outcomes for students participating in online learning (15%)
• Teaching and learning environment for online education (25%)
These four pillars are further divided into a total of 17 metrics, measuring institutional excellence through indicators such as:
• Number of available online programs
• Quality and accessibility of course materials
• Convenience and ease of use of online learning platforms
• Interaction with staff
• Teaching staff per student
• Equity indicators (e.g., number of students with disabilities, number of students from disadvantaged backgrounds, staff gender diversity)
• Information on non-teaching support staff, related institutional services, and technical infrastructure
Innovations at the University of Szeged: new pathways in education for student success
As highlighted by THE’s most recent assessment, the University of Szeged’s excellence extends beyond traditional forms of education, with the institution continually exploring innovative solutions and excelling in online education and distance learning. It fosters individual growth and addresses the diverse needs of its students and community members – locally, regionally, and beyond. This is achieved by ensuring the quality of its programs, advancing online course development, supporting collaborative learning through online tools such as CooSpace and CourseGarden, enhancing its digital infrastructure (e.g., campus-wide Wi-Fi, online library repositories), and providing access to courses and resources on the world’s largest online education platform through Coursera for SZTE.
The complete THE Online Learning Rankings 2024 is available here.
Original Hungarian text by SZTEinfo
Feature photo by Ádám Kovács-Jerney
