According to the QS Graduate Employability Survey published today, the University of Pretoria (UP) is ranked among the top one hundred universities in the world for its alumni outcomes, with a position in 97th place.

Graduate Employability is a new ranking system produced by QS that takes into account five criteria: employer reputation, alumni outcomes, partnerships with employers, employer-student connections and graduate employment rate. Following a pilot ranking last year which included only a limited number of institutions, this ranking has now been released in full for the first time.

According to a QS statement, alumni outcomes were assessed by sourcing the alma maters of highly successful individuals included in 61 lists, each measuring desirable outcomes in a particular walk of life. In total, QS analysed the educational pathways of 21,000 of the world's most innovative, creative, wealthy, entrepreneurial, and/or philanthropic individuals to establish which universities are producing world-changing graduates. A weighting formula was applied for submissions from outside the US and UK.

UP was ranked number 272 in the world for employer reputation. It was placed in the 251-300 bracket in the world for its overall showing, and third in South Africa after UCT and Wits.

'UP's ranking reflects the emphasis placed by the University on enhancing employability. We currently offer a Work Readiness and Entrepreneurship (WREn) programme, which aligns student competencies with the needs of employers and society and encourages entrepreneurship, as well as a Ready for Work Programme with free professional online development packages,' says UP Vice-Principal for Institutional Planning, Prof Anton Ströh.