James Cook University has returned to the 301-400 band in the prestigious Shanghai Ranking Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU).
The result puts JCU back in the 301-400 band where it had been ranked since 2022, following a move into the 401-500 band in the 2025 rankings.
JCU Vice Chancellor and President Professor Simon Biggs said the results reflected the University’s long-standing strength in research addressing the challenges facing the Tropics.
“At JCU we want to continue fostering academic excellence and focusing on educating the next generation of skilled workers in North Queensland and the Tropics worldwide – that’s what we were set up to do,” Professor Biggs said.
“We’re focused on ensuring that JCU continues to deliver high-quality research and education.”
JCU’s overall ARWU result was supported by an increase in its Highly Cited Researchers (HiCi) score, which measures research performance based on the number of Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers affiliated with the University.
Professor Biggs said JCU’s research performance was closely connected to its broader mission.
“Research excellence is one part of JCU’s role and we are also committed to producing graduates with the expertise and intellectual curiosity to make a difference in their professions and communities,” he said.
