South Africa’s University of Cape Town has been ranked the leading university in Africa by US News & World Report’s latest ranking system. However, the ranking system only considers academic reputation, research output, and student satisfaction, and does not fully capture the larger impact of a university’s work, such as their contribution to society by shaping policy, fostering informed discourse, stimulating scientific advances, and promoting democracy and human rights. Other ranking systems, such as the 2024 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, offer a different perspective by considering alignment with global sustainability objectives. Nevertheless, the true value of universities lies in their overall contribution to society beyond their rank.
