Universitas 21

{{short description|Global network of research-intensive universities}}

{{Use British English|date=September 2018}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}

{{Infobox organization

| name = Universitas 21

| image = U21 Stacked 432 RGB 72dpi.png

| size =

| formation = 1997

| type = Education and research

| leader_title = Provost

| leader_name = Jenny Dixon

| headquarters = Birmingham, United Kingdom

| region_served = Global

| website = [https://universitas21.com/ U21 Universitas21]

}}

Universitas 21 (U21) is an international network of research-intensive universities.{{Cite web|url=http://universitas21.com/about-us|title=About Universitas 21|website=www.universitas21.com|access-date=8 May 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://globalmaryland.umd.edu/content/universitas-21|title=Universitas 21 {{!}} Global Maryland, University of Maryland|website=globalmaryland.umd.edu|language=en|access-date=19 November 2017}}{{Cite web|url=https://student.unsw.edu.au/u21|title=Universitas 21 {{!}} UNSW Current Students|website=student.unsw.edu.au|access-date=19 November 2017}} Founded in Melbourne, Australia in 1997 with 11 members, it has grown to include twenty-nine member universities in nineteen countries and territories.{{Cite web|url= https://universitas21.com/what-we-do/about-us|title=About Universitas 21|website=universitas21.com|language=en|access-date=8 October 2023}}{{cite web|url= https://universitas21.com/u21-members/our-members |title=Member List|website=www.universitas21.com|access-date=8 October 2023}}

The universities collaborate on student experience, researcher engagement and educational innovation. It offers various student competitions including the Three Minute Thesis (3MT), the U21/PwC Innovation Challenge and the RISE (Real Impact on Society and Environment) Showcase.

Since 2012, Universitas 21 has commissioned the "U21 Ranking of National Higher Education Systems". Produced by researchers at the University of Melbourne, this ranking aims to show which countries create a "strong environment" that allows universities to contribute to growth, provide a high-quality student experience and help institutions compete globally.{{Cite web|url=http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/419906.article|title = UK is 10th among best global environments for universities|date = 11 May 2012}} It evaluates the standing of national higher education systems by providing rankings in four broad areas: resources, environment, connectivity and output. The rankings are then combined to provide an overall ranking.Williams et al. (2013), p.600. The ranking is then adjusted by GDP per capita, which allows countries to be compared to others at a similar stage of economic development.{{Cite web|url=https://universitas21.com/what-we-do/u21-rankings/u21-ranking-national-higher-education-systems-2020|title=U21 Ranking of National Higher Education Systems 2020{{!}} Universitas 21|website=universitas21.com|language=en|access-date=2021-01-16}} The 2013 study, which serves as the primary reference for the Universitas 21 Ranking of National Higher Education Systems, reveals that countries with high output rankings generally demonstrate strong resource indicators. It further establishes a positive correlation between research output and government funding, specifically in research and development (R&D).{{Cite journal|last=Williams|first=Ross|last2=de Rassenfosse|first2=Gaétan|last3=Jensen|first3=Paul|last4=Marginson|first4=Simon|title=The determinants of quality national higher education systems|date=2013|journal=Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management|volume=35|issue=6|pages=599–611|doi=10.1080/1360080X.2013.854288|author-link2=Gaétan de Rassenfosse}}

Universitas 21 has Consultative Status with the Economic & Social Affairs Council (ECOSOC).{{Cite web|url=https://www.un.org/ecosoc/en/home|title=UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC and SOCIAL COUNCIL|website=www.un.org|access-date=2019-11-01}}