Latin American universities, far behind universities in the United States and Canada

Only 24 Mexican universities appeared among the 1,300 universities that were included in the QS World Rankings 2022 released a few days ago. The QS, along with the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings and the Academic Ranking of World Universities (Shanghai Ranking), is one of the most influential indicators when it comes to world university rankings.

Universities are evaluated according to five factors, each of which receives a specific weight (mentioned in parentheses): 1. Academic reputation (40%). 2. Reputation among employers of graduates (10%). 3. The number of teachers in relation to the number of students (20%). 4. Number of references for faculty members in academic, scientific and specialized journals (20%). 5. The percentage of international teachers and students (10 percent).

The 24 Mexican universities and their place in the index are: UNAM (105); Tecnológico de Monterrey (161); Panamericana (between 551 and 560); Anahuac (between 601 and 650); Iberian America (between 701 and 750); National Polytechnic Institute and Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico ITAM (both between 751 and 800); UAM Metropolitan Autonomous University, Autonomous University of Chapingo, Autonomous University of Hidalgo State, University of Guadalajara and University of the Americas Puebla UDLAP (between 801 and 1000); Distinguished Autonomous University of Puebla, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, University of Monterrey (between 1100 and 1200); ITESO Jesuit University of Guadalajara, Autonomous University of Yucatan, Autonomous in Baja California, Autonomous in Querétaro UAQ, Autonomous in San Luis Potosí, Autonomous in Morelos, University of Guanajuato and University of Sonora (between 201 and 1300).

How does Mexico compare with other countries in America?

QS includes 177 universities in the United States. Five of them appear among the top 10 in the world: MIT (1), Stanford U (3), Harvard U (5), Caltech (6) and University of Chicago (10).

From Canada appear 28. Three of them are among the top 50 in the world: University of Toronto (26), McGill Yu (27) and University of British Columbia (46).

As for the countries of Latin America, I note the number of universities included in the ranking, which is the best in each country, and, in parentheses, the place it occupies in the list.

Argentina: 24, University of Buenos Aires (69); Bolivia: 2, Universidad Católica Boliviana and Universidad Mayor de San Andrés (between 11201 and 1300 places); Brazil: 27, University of São Paulo (121); Chile: 20, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (135); Colombia: 19, University of the Andes (236); Costa Rica: 3, University of Costa Rica (between 531 and 540); Cuba: 3, University of Havana (between 501 and 510); Ecuador: 7, University of San Francisco de Quito (between 751 and 800); Honduras: 1, National Autonomous University of Honduras (between 1120 and 1300); Panama: 3, Technological University of Panama (between 801 and 1000); Paraguay: 1, U Nacional de la Asunción (between 1100 and 1200); Peru: 8, Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (395); Uruguay: 4, University of Montevideo (469); Venezuela: 5, University of Los Andes – Merida (between 801 and 1000).

Latin American universities lag behind the major universities in the United States and Canada, and this affects their students as more and more companies are using rankings to determine the professional quality of graduates and the salaries they will receive.