Building on York’s reputation as a research-intensive university that is tackling societal issues through collaborative research, Research Infosource has ranked York University among the top 50 research universities in Canada for the third year in a row. York rises to the number one spot in Canada in key areas of strength in the social sciences and humanities. The University places third in health. The rankings look at research income and publications, two key areas that indicate research intensification and impact.
“York University and the Vice-President Research & Innovation are inspired by the 2019 rankings results from Research Infosource. These rankings recognize the important work our researchers are undertaking to tackle societal issues and shines a spotlight on the University’s historical focus on social sciences and humanities, and its emerging expertise in health,” said Rui Wang, interim vice-president research & innovation.
Research income, or the granting of funds for supported research, involves a highly competitive assessment process. This income fuels the innovation capacity, drives research aspirations and allows the University to realize its vast potential. In term of research income, York University was ranked first in Corporate Research Income Growth (per cent change FY2017-FY2018); and third in University Research Income Growth (per cent change FY2017-FY2018).
In publications, a traditional indicator of research intensification, York University excelled in the social sciences and humanities, and the health sciences. York ranked first in Social Sciences and Humanities publications in terms of number of publications; first in Social Sciences and Humanities publications in terms of the percentage of total publications; and third in Health Sciences publications as a percentage of total publications (comprehensive category, 2013-2017).
The social sciences and humanities ranking speaks to York’s historic strengths as the University is known for its interdisciplinary approach that embraces reflective assessments of society, cultural change and ways of knowing. Researchers are exploring historical change, political activism, the social and economic transformations of societies within Canada and around the world, and how culture has been and continues to be a crucial means of expression and avenue for creative problem solving.
The Research Infosource ranking is especially significant to the Faculty of Health since it’s a relatively new faculty, having come into being in September 2006. Researchers in this Faculty are focusing on improving health outcomes and bridging new knowledge and applications to improve the understanding, prevention and treatment of disease and injuries and to provide healthier environments for individuals and communities.
York’s growing reputation as a leader in health research has been reflected since 2017 in the hosting of Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s Institute of Population and Public Health, and through Vision: Science to Applications (VISTA), which involves researchers from across the University in advancing our understanding of how the brain works, linking visual neuroscience with computer vision, making connections across the health care sector, and contributing to new innovations.
About Research Infosource
Research Infosource is widely acknowledged as a respected and leading source of ranking information on research universities, corporations, hospitals and colleges that are used and followed by the research and innovation community, opinion and policy leaders in the government, research, corporate, higher education and non-profit sectors.
Each year, it publishes Canada’s Innovation Leaders – the premier national print and digital publication that includes key editorial content and its Who’s Who ranking and analysis of Canada’s leading research universities, corporations, hospitals and colleges that are enhancing Canada’s global competitiveness in the knowledge economy.
To see this year’s ranking, visit the Research Infosource website.