Peterborough and Cambridge based university one of the fastest rising in the world

The list, produced by Higher Education strategy consultants Firetail and published this week by Times Higher Education, includes Anglia Ruskin as one of the 20 “rising stars” in global Higher Education.

The report “Class of 2030: Which universities will rise – and how will they do it?” focuses on “challenger” universities, which are mainly new institutions rapidly rising up the world rankings and expected to rival the elite group of more established universities within the next 10-20 years.

Anglia Ruskin is the only UK university to feature in the top 20. Nine of the “rising stars” are located in the United States, with universities in Australia, South Korea, Japan, Germany and Finland completing the list.

In the last two years Anglia Ruskin has risen 39 places to 66th in The Guardian league tables, which rank all UK universities on factors including student satisfaction, money spent on students and employment prospects.

The Firetail report states: “Over the next 10-20 years, there will be unexpected challenges to the establishment. Ambitious, fast-improving universities will take advantage of disruptive global trends that create unique opportunities for innovation.

“Our research suggests the difference between the winners and losers will be strategy. No-one will become world class by chance. The rising “Class of 2030” will balance long-term vision with short-term execution, linked together by strong management and culture.

“They will have a clear view of the changing world and their role in it, and a robust plan to get the resources, people and culture they need to be successful.

“They will innovate, harnessing new partnerships, new networks, new resources and new institutional models. The outward-looking and impact-focussed institutions will beat the inward-looking and complacent.”

Professor Roderick Watkins, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Anglia Ruskin, said: “We are delighted to feature in this list of ‘rising stars’ in global Higher Education, in recognition of the huge strides we have taken over recent years in research and innovation.

“We continue to invest significantly in excellent staff and facilities in order to deliver our very ambitious strategic plans.”