Curtin University makes strong debut in QS Stars 2014 ratings

Miri – 19 December 2014 – Western Australia’s Curtin University has been awarded five-stars overall in the annual QS Stars university ratings for 2014.

The rating system sees participating universities across the world undergo a comprehensive audit to achieve an overall rating of between one and five stars across several indicators.

Curtin’s overall five-star rating was based on its performance across eight assessed categories. Five stars were awarded for teaching, employability, internationalisation, facilities, innovation, access and education, and three stars were awarded for research.

According to QS Stars, a typical five-star university is defined as, “generally world-class in a broad range of areas, enjoys a high reputation, and has cutting-edge facilities and internationally renowned research and teaching faculty.”

Curtin Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry said the results were an excellent outcome for Curtin’s debut in the QS Stars rating.

“It is most encouraging that we achieved five stars in the majority of categories assessed. This aligns with our vision and underpins the emphasis we place on our people, our teaching, learning and research capabilities, and our ability to make an impact across all of the communities we reach,” Professor Terry said.

“The ratings will allow us to establish further benchmarks that we can apply to ensure the highest standards of delivery in our key areas.

“Curtin can be proud of this outcome, which demonstrates that we are well-equipped to meet the many challenges currently facing the education sector.”

Echoing her sentiments, Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Jim Mienczakowski of Curtin Sarawak said his campus, Curtin’s largest international campus located in Miri, Sarawak, is proud that Curtin has been awarded five-stars in the QS Stars ratings and that it reflects well on the university’s standing in Malaysia.

The QS Stars system was introduced in 2011 and rates universities on areas beyond the scope of traditional ranking publications. There are a total of 11 assessment categories, each worth a specified number of points. Universities can choose categories up to a maximum of 1,000 points. Detailed information on the QS Stars 2014 assessments is available at www.topuniversities.com/qs-stars/home.

Earlier this year, Curtin boosted its global position in the 2014 QS World University Rankings by Subject, ranking in 16 of the 30 published subjects, which included Education being ranked number 37 in the world, and Earth & Marine Sciences which rose to 40th in the world.

With more than 50,000 students from around the globe and campuses across Australia and Asia, Curtin University is one of Australia’s largest and most multicultural universities with a strong commitment to international engagement.

Its campuses in Sydney, Sarawak (Malaysia) and Singapore offer a selection of the courses offered at its main campus in Perth, with identical course structure, allowing students to transfer between campuses and ultimately be better prepared to enter the global workforce. They can also choose to study with one of Curtin’s 90 partnering institutions worldwide.

For more information on Curtin University and its campuses, visit curtin.edu.au.

Curtin University Vice Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry.

Pro Vice-Chancellor of Curtin Sarawak, Professor Jim Mienczakowski.