Top 50 university ranking

The Univ of Toronto solidified and enhanced its standing as Canada's foremost academic research powerhouse in an otherwise lackluster year for university R&D. U of T posted an 11.9% increase in total research income in 2007 to maintain its #1 spot on the Canada's Top 50 Research Universities ranking, with $854.8 million. The Top 50, on the other hand, barely offset inflation with a tepid 3.6% hike, to just $5.72 billion. That increase was only 0.4% higher than the lowest year in a decade (2005) and the third year in a row in which increases fell below 10%.

U of T also ranks first in research intensity with $359.3 per full time faculty, up from $323.4 last year. Overall, the Top 50 increased research intensity by 1.5% compared to 3.9% in 2006.

Last year's #2 and #3 ranked universities — the Univ of Montreal and the Univ of British Columbia — both dropped a notch to accommodate the spectacular performance of the Univ of Alberta, which posted a 20.5% annual gain to $461.4 million and ranked second in research intensity with $301.

Three provinces experienced declines in research income, with BC the hardest hit with three of four Top 50-ranked institutions losing ground. Quebec institutions dropped 2.4% even though seven of its 12 universities on the list posted gains. They were overshadowed, however, by the declines of the two largest R&D spending universities — McGill Univ and the Univ of Montreal which dropped 7.2% and 5.4% respectively. Memorial Univ — the only university in Newfoundland — posted a 2.0% decline.

Saskatchewan and Alberta-based universities were the biggest gainers in 2007, especially the Univ of Saskatchewan which jumped 40.8% to $150.5 million for a #13 spot. The size of its increase was just behind the Top 50's biggest gainer — the much smaller Saint Mary's Univ — which achieved a 47.3% gain to $9.8 million for a #44 ranking.

funding sources

Unlike last year when federal support increased nearly 10%, the increase this year was a negligible 0.5%. The provinces rebounded from a 6.5% decline in 2006 to post a 7.6% increase in 2007, pulling overall government support into positive territory (2.5%) with $3.94 billion. Corporate support slumped 2.6% in 2007to $709.4 million.

Non corporate, non-government support (non-government grants/contracts and donations/bequests from individuals, not-for-profit and foundation organization sources) increased 9.0% to $847.4 million.

Endowments and investment were up 14% to $92.5 million while other sources jumped 24.8% to $133.8 million.

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