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THE School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Queen’s University Belfast, UK, has claimed the number one spot in a university rankings list based on the number of research citations in academic papers.

According to Thompson Reuters, which compiled the list, the school had more citations in academic journals between January 2001 and April 2011 than traditional subject leaders such as the universities of Cambridge and Oxford. This news caps the success Queen’s University’s chemistry and chemical engineering school has had already this year, when it was ranked in the top 100 QS University World Rankings.

Head of the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chris Hardacre, said that its academics “led the way” in international collaborations, with partners including Petronas, Johnson Matthey, Givaudan, Proctor & Gamble, Shell and General Electric, as well as working in forensics and medicinal chemistry.

“These are outstanding results which recognise the excellence of the school’s staff, and the University’s commitment to invest in disciplines which advance scientific knowledge and underpin future prosperity,” said Hardacre. “We operate in a global higher education environment and in challenging economic times, and it is vital that we ensure that our work is recognised internationally. Thirty percent of the school’s students come from outside the UK.”