Abu Dhabi-based Masdar Institute of Science and Technology has moved up to the 14th spot overall in the ‘2016 US News and World Report Best Arab Region Universities Rankings’, up from the 23rd position last year.

The institution has also edged up to fifth spot in the 'Energy' field, eighth in Chemistry, and ninth in Engineering, while being ranked tenth in both 'Environmental Science' and 'Materials Science’, said a statement from the university.

In the 'Academic Reputation' category, Masdar Institute is ranked eighth in the region by the US News and World Report, it said.

Masdar Institute was also the UAE's top ranked university in the categories of 'Engineering,' 'Chemistry,' 'Environmental Science,' and 'Materials Science’, it added.

Inclusion in the US News and World Report's reputation surveys requires a university to have approximately 400 papers or more published in the five-year period from 2009 through 2013, as measured by Scopus, the largest abstract and citation database of peer-reviewed literature including scientific journals, books and conference proceedings.

As of January 2016, Masdar Institute had already published over 1,000 articles in peer-reviewed journals, and more than 600 conference papers.

The Best Arab Region Universities rankings are based on data and research metrics provided by Scopus, which is part of the Elsevier Research Intelligence portfolio. The overall rankings also draw on ratings of schools (universities) by academics and employers in the region who were surveyed by Ipsos, a global market research company based in Paris, France.

Dr Behjat Al Yousuf, interim provost, Masdar Institute, said: "Our new ranking strongly indicates that we are committed to advancing UAE and Abu Dhabi's intellectual capital through advanced research and development.”

“We will continue with our efforts to create high-value human and intellectual capital in advanced energy and sustainability fields, while helping to place the UAE at the forefront of research and innovation that address the needs of Abu Dhabi and the globe,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service