Taylor’s is top M’sian private varsity
Universiti malaya drops a spot but is still nation’s best in asia rankings
TAYLOR’S University is the country’s top private institution in the QS University Rankings: Asia for the third consecutive year.
It is also the only South-east Asian institution to make it into the top 50 in the 2023 edition of the rankings.
The latest edition of the global rankings saw the varsity climb four spots to 49th position with an overall score of 62.2.
The rise, said Taylor’s University vice-chancellor and president Prof Michael Driscoll, demonstrates the institution’s commitment to pursuing a “balanced excellence” in education.
“These achievements set a strong foundation for us to attract the best students and staff, collaborate with the best partners globally, and produce quality graduates,” he said in a statement on Nov 8.
As part of the institution’s aspirations for long-term global prominence, Taylor’s University will continue pushing for pedagogical innovation and adaptation to provide new perspectives and approaches to higher education, he said, adding that curriculum reform aligned with the needs of the ever-changing social and economic development of the world has always been a priority.
Also in the top 50 are Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) and UCSI University.
UTP vice-chancellor Prof Dr Mohamed Ibrahim Abdul Mutalib said a jump of four spots saw the varsity securing 68th position in the prestigious rankings.
Describing the rise as a testament to the varsity’s capabilities, he credited UTP’S strengths – namely, its educators and researchers who drive innovative, impactful and quality research.
“Future-proofing our academic programmes is vital. This calls for the infusion of new developments in technology and digitalisation into the curriculum, whether it is data analytics or artificial intelligence, and subjects related to society and humanities,” he added.
Ranked 72nd in Asia, and 16th in South-east Asia, UCSI University said the milestone of breaking into Asia’s top 75 comes on the back of five consecutive years of improvement, with the university rising 140 positions over this period.
UCSI University vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Siti Hamisah Tapsir said the upward trend evinced the progress the university was making, particularly in the areas of research and thought leadership.
“Maintaining an upward trajectory is not easy and I would like to thank all UCSI staff, students, alumni and industry partners for their contributions.
“We are encouraged by the latest results and we will continue our focus on graduate outcomes, student experiences and research,” she said.
Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) president Prof Datuk Dr Ewe Hong Tat said the varsity, which was ranked 144th, would put more effort, and continue to improve and add value towards educational excellence in teaching and research.
The rankings, released on Nov 8, saw Malaysia having the highest concentration of top 50 and top 100 universities in Asia, despite an overall decline with more drops than gains among the 36 institutions ranked.
Of the 36 local institutions, 12 improved, five maintained their positions, and 19 dropped in the ranks.
Despite dropping one spot from 8th to 9th position this year, Universiti Malaya (UM) is the country’s best-performing institution.
UM is also the most well-regarded university among international employers and academics, according to QS reputation surveys. It ranks among Asia’s top 10 for Employer Reputation and top 20 for Academic Reputation.
Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia were ranked 27th and 30th, respectively, with Universiti Sains Malaysia up from 35th to 32nd spot, and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) sliding from 38th to 39th position this year.
While acknowledging that Malaysia’s institutions are intensely collaborative in terms of international research, the 15th edition of the rankings notes that quality and impact remain a struggle for the country’s varsities.
Malaysia is intensely collaborative in terms of cross-border research, with three universities among Asia’s top 10 for International Research Network, more than any other location featured in the rankings.
UM, which produces the country’s most impactful research with its work in liver and heart disease garnering particular interest, was also named Asia’s second-most international research institution, while UPM and UTM ranked 8th and 9th, respectively.
UPM’S research is supported by Malaysia’s highest staff expertise, according to the Staff with PHD indicator, in which it ranks 27th regionally.
Malaysia is also popular among international student cohorts, indicating that it is one of Asia’s most attractive study destinations.
QS senior vice president Ben Sowter said Malaysia should invest in expanding its research capability, and reform and simplify its immigration policy and visa rules to attract more international faculty.
“The expansion and internationalisation of the higher education system will support Malaysia’s next stage of development.
“As Malaysia transitions to a high-income economy to remain competitive, economic growth will need to be fuelled by technology and innovation,” he said in a statement.
For the first time in eight years, Singapore dropped out of the top position. Instead, China’s Peking University ranked 1st, followed by National University of Singapore and Tsinghua University, China.
Evaluating the region’s institutions based on academic and employer recognition, research, resources and internationalisation, this year’s Asia Rankings is the largest ever, featuring 760 universities.
The full listing can be found at www.topuniversities.com.