As an old Clairol advertising slogan once famously declared: “You’re not getting older, you’re getting better!”

Turns out they could have been talking about SFU.  Our university has once again claimed a spot in the Times Higher Education (THE) “Top 100 under 50” ranking. We are 26^th in the world – four spots higher than our 2012 position.

This assessment is based upon factors such as research volume and influence, learning environment and international outlook. 

According to THE, the list “provides a glimpse into the future, showcasing not those institutions with centuries of history, but the rising stars which show great potential.” 

The ranking also provides further proof of SFU’s growing international strength and reputation. Last year, the QS Top 50 Under 50 survey rated SFU 25^th in the world among universities under 50 years of age.

Our new strategic vision is also helping us garner national and international recognition. I and others from SFU have recently been invited to play prominent roles at major international conferences on university-community engagement, including the World University Forum, Global University Network for Innovation, and Going Global conferences. In addition, I was asked last year to chair the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) Working Group on Campus-Community Collaboration, and in April spoke on university-community engagement to the AUCC national meetings in Calgary.

So there’s plenty of reason to believe that SFU is aging well as we look forward to our golden anniversary in 2015!