MOSCOW, December 16 (Sputnik) — The Lomonosov Moscow State University tops the Qacquarelli Symonds (QS) emerging Europe and Central Asia University Rankings 2014/2015, while Novosibirsk State University shares second place with the Czech Charles University, according to the QS' press release.
Saint Petersburg State University was ranked fourth. In total, there are 26 Russian universities in top-100 list.
When compiling the list, the QS analyzed the operations of 368 universities in 30 countries, including in the Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, among others.
The methodology used to create the rankings has been developed in consultation with the QS Global Academic Advisory Board and with local experts.
Criteria used by the QS, included focusing on the "academic reputation" of universities based on over 7,000 valid responses from academics with knowledge of institutions in the region, as well as on the "employer reputation" based on global surveys of employer opinions about institutions in the region. Various other factors were also considered, including the number of staff with PhD diplomas and the number of international students in the university.
The QS was established in 1990 and since then has become the world's leading global provider of higher education and careers information and solutions. The QS World University Rankings annual league table is widely used and referenced by organizations and governments worldwide. In 2014, the QS published its first Emerging Europe and Central Asia University Ratings.