As one of the USA’s leading universities, Arizona State University (ASU) has many valuable qualities. However, it clearly stands out from the competition in one area: innovation.
For the past 11 years in a row, Arizona State University has been ranked the number 1 “most innovative university” by U.S. News & World Report.
What Makes ASU so good?
It is ranked higher than universities like Stanford and MIT. Since this rating category has only been in place for 11 years, ASU has a perfect record of being awarded the most innovative university in the United States.
A survey of university peers is used to determine a university’s innovation ranking. U.S. News & World Report takes into account everything from buildings and technology to enhancements to the curriculum and campus life when determining the rankings.
ASU’s reputation as an innovative university has greatly impressed academics and education professionals from other universities, including college presidents and senior administrators.
What makes ASU the innovative university champion?
ASU strives to empower students using the latest teaching and learning techniques.
For this reason, when they began their first year at ASU, all of the students living in the state-of-the-art Tooker House residence for engineers received Amazon Echo Dots, a hands-free, voice-activated smart device.
With the Echo Dots, students can enrol in courses focused on developing voice-user interfaces and capabilities and have touchless access to information and services, many of which are designed for campus living.
Additionally, ASU is among the research universities in America with the fastest growth rates. Students from all backgrounds are drawn to cutting-edge research initiatives in fields including robotics, electron microscopy, space exploration, and sustainability.
Its appeal has made it a diverse university, with students from more than 135 countries. Other U.S. universities notice the innovation at ASU. This was highlighted last year by ASU’s President, Michael M. Crow: “Our colleagues at colleges and universities around the country are very interested in what we’re doing, and they pay close attention to all that we have been able to achieve.”
ASU’s guiding principle is demonstrated in remarkable ways. For instance, in 2018 ASU opened its first net zero energy building. The building — the Student Pavilion on the Tempe campus — uses no more energy than it generates.
ASU is also the first university to run a virtual reality biology lab for online students. Using VR headsets, students can manipulate DNA and complete dissections in a virtual world.
Groundbreaking research takes place at the University.
In a major advancement in cancer treatment, scientists at ASU, with researchers from the National Center for Nanoscience and Technology (NCNST) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, have programmed tiny robots, known as nanorobots, to shrink tumors by cutting off their blood supply.
Another example is the university’s work on smart cities. ASU recently received a $3 million grant to launch a graduate research training program focused on developing citizen-centered smart cities.
The project aims to train students to become the scientists, engineers and policymakers who create the cities of the future.
