University of Auckland among world’s best for digital talent development

Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland has been ranked among the world’s top institutions for producing digitally skilled graduates, placing 76th in the 2025 Top 200 Global Leaders in Digital Talent Development ranking.

Produced by the Emerging Group, which specialise in employability rankings, the list highlights universities making a significant contribution to the digital economy by training professionals who lead innovation and drive digital transformation.

“This ranking reflects the University of Auckland’s commitment to preparing students for the future of work. As the digital economy evolves, it’s encouraging to see our graduates recognised for their ability to lead and adapt in a rapidly changing landscape,” says Vice-Chancellor Professor Dawn Freshwater.

The University also earned high placements in several sub-rankings, including 15th in Computer Science, 60th in Digital Transformation Management and 48th in Online Studies.

Unlike many traditional university rankings, this assessment focuses less on what institutions teach or research and more on the impact of their graduates in the workplace. Employer perceptions of graduate preparedness and programme quality remain central to the ranking, alongside a new measure introduced this year that considers the innovation performance of companies where graduates are employed.

The University also continues to perform strongly in global employability rankings. In the 2025 Global Employability University Ranking and Survey, Auckland was ranked 89th out of 250 institutions worldwide and remains the only New Zealand university to feature on the list.