Harvard gets schooled by China as America’s universities choose activism over excellence A new global research ranking by Leiden University places two Chinese institutions ahead of Harvard, with only two U.S. universities in the top 20, indicating a decline in American academic research output. This shift is attributed to a focus on DEI, identity, and activism over truth-seeking and merit, impacting hiring, teaching, and research culture. Meanwhile, China’s state-backed investment in research capacity has led to its dominance, while U.S. universities also face issues with undisclosed foreign funding.

• Harvard has fallen to third place in a global research ranking by Leiden University, with two Chinese institutions now ahead of it.
• Only Harvard and the University of Michigan are in the top 20 U.S. universities, while China holds 16 of the top 20 slots.
• The article argues that American universities have shifted focus from research and merit to DEI, identity, and activism, negatively impacting scholarship.
• Hiring practices, teaching methods, and research culture are cited as areas where this shift has occurred.
• China is actively building research capacity as a state project, investing in labs, programs, and talent.
• U.S. universities have faced scrutiny for failing to disclose significant foreign funding, particularly from countries like Qatar and China.
• FBI and Senate investigations have warned about Chinese programs designed to exploit America’s open research environment for intellectual property transfer.
• The article concludes that to regain research leadership, American universities must refocus on research, development, and education.