The Health through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport (HPALS) research centre, based in UCT’s Faculty of Health Sciences, has climbed six places in the Shanghai Rankings for Sports Science Schools and Departments from 31 to 25 in the 2024 rankings. 

The 2024 Shanghai Ranking of Sport Science Schools & Departments ranks the top 300 universities in sport-related disciplines. A total of 460 universities and 523 sport-related units were evaluated. Among them, 12 specialised sports universities made the list.  

The focus of HPALS is to optimise human performance, promote health and well-being, and tackle the pandemics of obesity and inactivity—reducing the burden of disease and injury.  

UCT, through HPALS, is also one of the nine universities who were recently invited to be part of the leadership council of the recently formed Global Sports University Network. A global network designed to enhance collaboration among top-ranked sport science institutions, driving transdisciplinary research excellence and the promotion of postgraduate training.  

"These achievements reflect the dedication and hard work of our talented researchers and students, whose impactful research continues to make a difference,” said Associate Professor Yumna Albertus, director of HPALS. “The recognition further motivates us to excel and reach even greater heights.”  

“We are committed to leveraging our position within these global networks to enhance innovation, knowledge exchange, and capacity building. By strengthening collaboration among these leading institutions, we aim to drive research excellence and transformative education in sports science,” she added. 

*Image source: Ben Iwara via Unsplash*