UM, eight Malaysian universities in latest THE rankings

KUALA LUMPUR, March 16 ― Universiti Malaya (UM) placed 59th in the Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University Rankings 2017 that was topped by the National University of Singapore (NUS).

THE described Malaysia as having the “greatest potential” among emerging university nations in Asia, with seven of the nation's universities making the top 200.

Behind UM, the report ranked privately-owned Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) in the 111-120 band, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in the 121-130 band, Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) in the 141-150 band, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in the 151-160 band, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) in the 161-170 band while Universiti Teknologi MARA and Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) received the 251+ band respectively.

Compared to 2016, UTM and USM both registered declines, having placed 70th and in the 141-150 band previously.

UM vice-chancellor Tan Sri Professor Dr. Mohd Amin Jalaludin, in the report, said international students now comprised 18 per cent of the institution's total enrolment, up from 5 per cent in 2000

He also said one in five academics at UM were foreign, attributing both to the use of English language in its programmes as a way “to accommodate this major shift”

Mohd Amin said that the country was “definitely on [its] way to becoming a leading higher education nation”, based on the number of “quality universities” and branch campuses of renowned international institutions in Malaysia.

But he stressed the need to distinguish Malaysia from other world powers.

“While we may not have the kind of scale [that China enjoys], we should be focusing on quality,” he said in the report.

NUS was also top last year. The top 20 of the ranking this year was dominated by universities from China, Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong.

Thailand emerged as the best represented country in the Southeast Asia, with 10 of its universities making it into the top 200 spots.

Japan has the most entrants, with 69 of its institutions making the rankings.