According to the latest data from Essential Science Indicators (ESI) released in January 2026, the Physics discipline at Donghua University (DHU) has re-entered the global top 1%—a milestone achieved for the first time in 12 years. This latest advancement brings the total number of DHU disciplines ranked in the ESI global top 1% to eight, marking another significant step forward following Engineering’s rise into the global top 1‰ in September 2025.
The eight disciplines currently in the top 1% are Materials Science, Chemistry, Engineering, Environment/Ecology, Computer Science, Biology & Biochemistry, Mathematics, and Physics. Among them, Materials Science, Chemistry, and Engineering have progressed further into the top 1‰, highlighting DHU’s growing international competitiveness and established strengths in key research areas.
ESI, a widely recognized benchmarking tool based on data from the Web of Science (SCIE/SSCI), evaluates global research performance across 22 disciplines using citation data over a rolling 10-year period. Updated bi-monthly, ESI rankings place institutions in the top 1% as internationally competitive, while entry into the top 1‰ signifies world-leading excellence.
The return of Physics to the top 1% reflects DHU’s sustained commitment to strengthening fundamental disciplines, refining its academic structure, and advancing original innovation. It also underscores the rising impact of its research teams, particularly in producing high-quality outputs and enhancing global academic visibility.
In recent years, DHU has actively advanced an integrated strategy combining education, scientific research, and talent development. Aligned with national strategic priorities, the university has focused on frontier research and original discovery. Since the establishment of its College of Physics in 2024, DHU has further expanded collaborative innovation efforts and international partnerships, achieving notable breakthroughs, notably the research conducted under microgravity conditions aboard the space station.