Egerton University Shows Resilience in Latest Webometric Rankings

Egerton University took position 5 in Kenya in the rankings, which assess over 30,000 institutions worldwide based on web presence and academic influence.

In the recently released July 2024 edition of the Webometric Rankings, Egerton University has demonstrated its global impact and scholarly prominence, despite facing challenges in some areas.

Egerton University took position 5 in Kenya in the rankings, which assess over 30,000 institutions worldwide based on web presence and academic influence.

Globally, the rankings positioned Egerton University at 2876 globally, reflecting a slight decline from its previous rank of 2606.

However, the university maintained a strong presence within Africa, securing the 101st position continentally, albeit down from 85 last year.

Methodologies and Insights

The Webometric Rankings evaluate institutions based on three main criteria: Visibility/Impact, Transparency/Openness, and Excellence/Scholar. These metrics provide a comprehensive view of each institution's online footprint and academic contributions.

Visibility/Impact

In this criterion, carrying a weight of 50%, it assesses the number of external networks linking to the institutional webpage, including academic journals hosted on the university's site.

Egerton University saw a decline to 3605 in global visibility, compared to 2344 last year. In Africa, it dropped to 44th place from 32nd, and in Kenya, it fell to 6th place from 4th.

Transparency/Openness

On this, it accounts for 10% of the rankings, this metric focuses on top cited researchers affiliated with the institution. Egerton University improved its global ranking to 2622, up from 2855 last year, showcasing its researchers' increasing impact on the global academic stage. In Africa, it climbed to 131st place from 143rd, and in Kenya, it rose to 6th place from 7th.

Excellence/Scholar

This aspect has a significant weight of 40%. The criterion examines the number of top-cited papers across various disciplines. Egerton University maintained a global position of 3881, a slight decrease from 3716 last year. In Africa, it dropped to 234th place from 209th, while retaining its 5th position in Kenya.

Response and Future Outlook

Despite the fluctuations in rankings, Egerton University remains committed to enhancing its global academic standing and digital presence. Prof. Isaac Kibwage, PhD. Vice-Chancellor of Egerton University, expressed optimism about the university's performance, emphasizing ongoing initiatives to strengthen research output and international collaborations.

"We are pleased with our scholars' continued impact on global research and the recognition of our academic contributions," said Prof. Kibwage. "While we acknowledge areas for improvement highlighted by the rankings, we are determined to leverage our strengths and foster innovation across our campuses, faculties, departments, and Directorates."

Director Marketing and Resource Mobilization Prof. Nzula Kitaka at the University observed that there are plans to intensify efforts in digital outreach and scholarly publications, aiming to regain and surpass previous rankings in the upcoming assessments.

“The university's dedication to academic excellence and community engagement remains unwavering, solidifying its position as a key player in Kenya's higher education landscape,” she explained.

While facing challenges in certain metrics, Egerton University's commitment to academic excellence and global impact shines through in the latest Webometric Rankings.

With strategic investments in research and innovation, the university is poised to elevate its standing on the global stage and continue its legacy of scholarly leadership in Africa.

By Kurian Musa ,Communications Officer

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Directorate of Marketing and Resource Mobilization

Egerton University