UTAR, Uniten among local varsities in world rankings list

EIGHT Malaysian universities make it to this year’s Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings top 1,000 list – up from seven last year.

Malaysia’s flagship institution, Universiti Malaya, joins the top 400 as a new entrant (351-400 band).

Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) and Universiti Tenaga Nasional (Uniten) also join the table for the first time, in the 501600 and 801-1000 bands respectively.

Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and Universiti Teknologi Petronas were ranked in the 601st to 800th band.

Malaysia is one of the leading emerging university nations in Asia, said Times Higher Education Global Rankings editorial director Phil Baty.

“It has one of the world’s fastest growth rates in research paper outputs, PhD training capacity has increased, and it has the wealth needed to invest in the higher education sector.

“If Malaysia takes advantage of these characteristics then it may continue to improve in the rankings in the years to come,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.

In congratulating UTAR, MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said the university was ranked in the 501-600 band on the list, above several Malaysian institutions.

“We hope this joyful achievement can be shared with more people,” said Dr Wee who is also Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department on his Facebook post.

UM deputy vice-chancellor (academic and international) Prof Dr Awang Bulgiba Awang Mahmud said: “This ranking will help UM build a strong brand locally and internationally, and make us the preferred choice of students and potential staff.

“It also helps project a good image to potential university and industry partners,” he added.

UTAR president Prof Datuk Dr Chuah Hean Teik said the university – set up by MCA in 2002 – is “humbled” with THE’s ranking.

“We will continue to work even harder in teaching, research, as well as international and industrial collaboration as we aim to provide quality higher education to as many youths as possible,” he said.

Uniten vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Kamal Nasharuddin Mustapha said THE’s recognition gave the institution a boost in image in terms of research, making it a great choice for potential students.

“I believe our new strategic plan known as Building Opportunities, Living Dreams 2025 (BOLD2025), has been a wow factor to the ranking since it highlights three areas which are Teaching & Learning Excellence, Research Excellence and Financial Sustainability,” he said.

UPM vice-chancellor Prof Datin Paduka Dr Aini Ideris said the university’s focus has always been to strengthen the fundamentals in teaching and learning as well as research.

“The evaluation of the ranking would set a benchmark that would help the university to continually improve teaching and learning, research and internationalisation initiatives in the years to come.”

THE World University Rankings are global performance tables that judge research-intensive universities across all their core missions: teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook.

Globally, the University of Oxford retains first place in the World University Rankings. The University of Cambridge climbs two places to second, overtaking California Institute of Technology and Stanford University, which are in the third spot.

For more information, visit https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2018/world-ranking.