London, 1st October 2024: Global higher education analyst QS Quacquarelli Symonds has awarded the University of Otago 5+ Stars in its prestigious QS Stars assessment.
The award makes the University of Otago the first university in the world to be awarded the top rating under the revamped Stars methodology, which was introduced earlier this year. The new criteria place an increased emphasis on institutions’ sustainability performance.
Created in 2009, QS Stars rates institutions out of a possible five stars based on areas that are most important to students, including facilities, teaching, employability, research and rankings performance.
Jason Cushen, Director International at the University of Otago, said: “As New Zealand’s first university, the University of Otago has global reputation for research and teaching excellence. QS Stars demonstrates to the world other aspects of the unique Otago experience that are important to students, such as our world class facilities, exceptional graduate employability, and high levels of student support.”
QS Stars was relaunched in January 2024 with a new methodology that introduced Sustainability as an assessment category. The enhancement was designed to reflect universities’ pivotal role in tackling contemporary global challenges while emphasising the increasing importance of sustainability to prospective students.
Cushen added: “QS Stars has always adapted to measure what is important to the changing needs of students and evolving missions of universities. The University of Otago has a commitment to sustainability in all its forms, and we have particularly welcomed the new Environmental, Social and Governance related measures under the new methodology.”
Florence Webb, Head of Frameworks at QS, said: “The University of Otago’s achievement of the prestigious 5+ Stars rating, the highest possible accolade, highlights its outstanding performance across key higher education metrics and is a recognition of its commitment to excellence, both locally and overseas.”
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QS Quacquarelli Symonds
QS Quacquarelli Symonds is the world’s leading provider of services, analytics, and insight to the global higher education sector, whose mission is to empower motivated people anywhere in the world to fulfil their potential through educational achievement, international mobility, and career development. Launched in 2009, QS Stars currently assesses more than 700 institutions across more than 70 countries.
