'We are small but we are mighty!': Uni taking on the best in the world

This is Southern Cross University's biggest ever leap up the Young University Rankings ladder, while marking another milestone in 2024: its 30th birthday.

A single-year rise of 70 places is also the second largest ever recorded by an Australian university in the Times Higher Education (THE) Young University Rankings history.

"We have a profound belief that we can deliver world class education and research right here in our region, and this year's ranking result represents a strong affirmation of our focus on delivering against that vision," Vice-Chancellor Professor Tyrone Carlin said.

The Young University Rankings list the world's best universities that are 50 years old or younger, using similar methodology as THE's World University Rankings, which examine a breadth of measures relating to the core functions, impact and reputation of the university.

The university's adoption of its innovative Southern Cross Model for teaching has driven enormous enhancements to student academic success and learning outcomes and this is generating more and more interest within Australia and across the world.

Outstanding research also lies at the very core of Southern Cross University's work, with the university's research teams striving to produce world-leading knowledge across science, engineering, technology, health, education, law and the social sciences, including a long-term commitment to work for the protection of our precious Great Barrier Reef.

Other research innovations from Southern Cross University include trialling a marine cloud brightening technology to prevent coral bleaching, working to address the varroa mite (Varroa destructor) incursion on bee health and production, and new and exciting research in health, such as the largest-ever clinical trial of botanical cannabidiol for sleep disturbances.

The university's Research Impact Clusters are also consolidating its reputation for excellent research that is not only critical to our communities but, as these results suggest, is also gaining international recognition.

"This is an excellent result for Southern Cross University," Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mary Spongberg said, "particularly given its strong reflection of our profile in the area of world-class research.

"A young regional university placing so highly among some of the best in the world is something to be very proud of. We are small but we are mighty!

"We also placed well in the area of teaching, which reflects innovations such as our development of the Southern Cross Model."