Cardiff Metropolitan University is the most improved university in Wales, according to an influential UK-wide league table.
While the outlook for the higher education sector has been challenged by the impact of the pandemic, Cardiff Met has achieved the best year-on-year improvement, and one the best in the UK, in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021.
The Cardiff-based university has risen 33 places in the league table to 79th, having last year been ranked 112th, so earning it the title of Welsh University of the Year.
Its improvement in the rankings was the third best in the analysis of 135 universities.
The academic league table is made up of nine indicators including student satisfaction with teaching quality and their wider student experience, research quality, graduate prospects, entrance qualifications held by new students, degree results achieved, student/staff ratios, service and facilities spend and degree completion rates.
Cardiff University remains the highest ranked Welsh university in the UK, having maintained its 34th position on last year, followed by Swansea in 36th place, although five places down on last year.
Aberystwyth is ranked 42nd (45th last year); Bangor 62nd (70th last year); University of South Wales joint 90th (114th last year) and University of Wales Trinity St David joint 101st (joint 102nd).
The lowest ranked again is Wrexham Glyndwr University at 124th (130th last year), although an improvement of six places on last year.
Alastair McCall, editor of The Sunday Times Good University Guide, said: “Cardiff Met’s performance in this year’s academic ranking is exceptional. It is the biggest riser in Wales, and the third biggest in the UK, ranking in the UK top 40 now for student satisfaction with teaching quality and the wider student experience.
“Known for providing hands-on higher education, Cardiff Met performed strongly in our new employment measure with nearly three-quarters of graduates in high-skilled jobs or postgraduate study within 15 months of leaving.
"Add to this the exceptional contribution the university has made in the sporting arena over several decades - honing the talents of 300 international-standard athletes competing across 30 sports using sector-leading training facilities combined with top-class coaching - and the university made a compelling case to win this year’s award as Welsh University of the Year."
Vice-chancellor of Cardiff Metropolitan University, Prof Cara Aitchson, said: "The entire Cardiff Met community is absolutely delighted to kick off this new academic year with such a widely-recognised national award that acknowledges the quality of the education and experience we provide to students from around the globe.
“This has been a challenging year, but we have performed strongly across the board in the main annual surveys and guides.
“Cardiff Met is here to serve its students and wider stakeholders and I’d like to acknowledge the role our partnerships have played in the award of Welsh University of the Year 2021 by The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide.
“We are all on a journey and colleagues, students and wider partners have worked tirelessly to deliver these results which are wholly in line with the very stretching milestones we set out over three years ago."
Cardiff Met has 17,629 students and 1,495 staff.
