By Martin Brygger Andersen and Lise Bundgaard, Aalborg University Library.

Aalborg University is making its mark internationally as a frontrunner in interdisciplinary research. In the new Times Higher Education – Interdisciplinary Science Rankings (THE ISR), the university occupies an impressive 65th place in the world, 11th place in Europe, and 3rd place in the Nordic region among 911 universities from 94 countries. 

The ranking was launched in 2024, and AAU is participating for the first time in the latest edition – with a result that underscores the university's strong international position.

THE ISR focuses on interdisciplinary research within the STEM disciplines – also in combination with the Social Sciences. The method assesses three main areas: input (19%), processes (16%) and output (65%). Output is particularly highly weighted and includes the quantity, quality, and impact of interdisciplinary publications as well as the university's reputation. The input section deals with research funding, while the process section assesses the university's organizational support for interdisciplinary collaboration. 

AAU's strong rank is directly in line with the university's strategy of strengthening collaboration across disciplines to develop solutions to complex societal challenges. The result is not only international recognition, but also clear evidence that AAU's interdisciplinary approach produces research results with global reach.