THE University of Worcester is the most improved uni in the country, according to research released today.

In the Research Excellence Framework rankings, the university climbed 32 places - the most of any higher education establishment.

The university climbed from 145th to 113th in the rankings.

World-leading research at Worcester has increased 18-fold, with the total amount of work recognised as being worthy of receiving government funding increasing 15-fold.

Researchers at Worcester have been recognised as carrying out world-leading work in history, art and design, health, education, biological science, psychology, sport, geography and English.

There is also internationally excellent work in all these areas and in business and management and drama and the performing arts.

Professor David Green, the University of Worcester’s vice chancellor and chief executive, said: "The wonderful staff at the University of Worcester are deeply committed to making a positive difference to our region and the wider world.

"Research carried out in areas from tackling the obesity epidemic to how to stimulate children’s imaginations through art and illustration is having a growing impact for the good.

"The huge increases in the quality, quantity and range of the research work carried out at the university, despite shoestring government funding over the past 12 years, are a tribute to all the individual researchers involved.

"These results today confirm that the university is now having a more positive, significant impact than ever.

"This impact, which aims to be truly inclusive, is symbolised by The Hive, the country’s first university and public library and the University of Worcester Arena, the first purpose designed arena in Britain to include wheelchair athletes."

The last time the exercise was carried out, in 2008, research at Worcester was rated world-leading in just one subject area – English – and then just five per cent of the work in English.

This improvement has been mirrored by a jump in the number of university staff carrying out such research work, with 112 this year compared to just 25 in 2008.