Why You Should Study at “New” Universities

What are they?

Academics consider universities that have operated for 50 years or less “new.” “New” universities often have a STEM focus, suggesting that with the right combination of support and funding, STEM programs can thrive, and compete with more traditional, “red brick” institutions—those schools with sprawling campuses dominated by lots of…well…brick. “New” universities focus on the acquisition of the hard, out-of-the-gates skills necessary to compete in a consistently evolving global landscape. Practical skills for the workplace, less so for a career in the ivory tower.

Modern and Efficient

Why should you study at a new university? Simply put, they’re modern and largely self-contained. No need to invest in and maintain old infrastructures and designs. New universities create their own—and save money by investing in new enterprises, not maintaining old ones.

This is part of the reason why they’re self-contained—“across campus” doesn’t mean across town as it does at some older, traditional “red brick” schools. It can literally mean across a small campus—or even across a large building. Smaller, more concentrated spaces mean less sprawl—and generally less maintenance. More of your tuition dollars go directly towards your learning, not necessarily your facilities.

All “new” universities have modern facilities—from living accommodations to sports facilities to lecture halls and labs. Wireless campuses, state-of-the-art facilities, and modern architecture make for dynamic, creative places to study, learn, and prepare for a fast-paced, dynamic workplace.

See for yourself

In a recent “new” university ranking that measured academic reputation, employer reputation, student-faculty ratios, citations per faculty, and international faculty ratio, “new” STEM-focused universities in Asia and Australia dominated, with Europe not far behind. Let’s look at a few:

Consider Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, which is, according to the ranking, the top-ranked global university for STEM. With its towering spires of intellect, creativity, and innovation, Nanyang Technological University offers some of a “new” university’s finer features.

The City University of Hong Kong, also ranks highly as one of the world’s premier “new” universities with programs that offer the flexibility and versatility of many traditional “red brick” schools. Did we mention their exciting transnational education partnership with Columbia University?

Study “down under” at the highly ranked University of Technology in Sydney, which offers students not only the opportunity to study at an institution with a global focus on research and development but also the experience of living in a culturally vibrant city.

In Europe, celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, Maastricht University in the Netherlands also ranks highly. Maastricht University approaches learning in “the international classroom” with strong study abroad programs that focus on bringing the international community together to solve global problems—and make new friends. It’s widely considered “the best new young university in Europe.”

The UK’s “plate-glass” universities—so-called for their facilities constructed from concrete and glass—are among some of the most reputable, best-known, and earliest “new” universities. In fact, many are aging out of the “new” status, with founding dates in the early 1960’s.

Perhaps one of the oldest, the University of Dundee, founded in 1967 (with roots going back to 1881) still makes the list for its diversity in its programs, and its practical, real-world approach to learning.

New universities. In a fast-paced, global workplace with ever-shifting economic and educational trends, why not study at a university created to address the demands and needs of a “new” highly educated—and highly prepared—population?