KUALA LUMPUR, July 5 ― Five Malaysian universities made the top 200 of this year's Times Higher Education (THE) best Asia Pacific schools’ list, led by both Universiti Putra Malaysia and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in the joint 121-130 band.
Coming at number three was Universiti Teknologi Petronas in the 131-140 band, while Universiti Sains Malaysia sat in the 141-150 band. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia on other hand was listed within the 151-160 band, while Universiti Teknologi Mara and Universiti Utara Malaysia were listed in the 200 and above band in the THE’s inaugural Asia Pacific university ranking.
Phil Baty, THE rankings editor, said Malaysian universities made the ranking due their good international outlook.
“It is great news that seven Malaysian institutions make this list of the best universities in the Asia-Pacific region, and that five of these feature in the top 200. The country is led by both Universiti Putra Malaysia and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in the joint 121-130 band.
“Malaysia’s universities generally perform well when it comes to their international outlook,” he said in a statement.
But Baty noted that Malaysian varsities often achieved low scores for research impact (citations),and urged them to do better in research quality to improve their standings.
“While the country is building its research capacity, it will need to improve the quality of research if it wants to improve its standing in this ranking in future years.”
Occupying the top spot was the National University of Singapore, which has scored the best marks for several years now. Another school from the tiny island republic, the Nanyang Technological University, also sat in the list’s top five, taking up the fifth spot.
Second on the list was China's Peking University with University of Melbourne following after. The communist republic's Tsinghua University also made the top five, occupying the fourth spot.
Japan, known as one of the best countries for education, was represented by University of Tokyo at number nine. Hong Kong's University of Hong Kong and the University of Science and Technology took the sixth and seventh spot respectively.
Baty commenting on the list said the Asia-Pacific was considered one of the most important higher education and research regions in the world.
“This ranking proves what a diverse and dynamic part of the world it is,” he said.
Baty noted that while Japan was the most-represented country in the table and universities in Australia and New Zealand featured prominently, countries with less established higher education sectors were among the standout performers.
The National University of Singapore led the region, while universities in China, Hong Kong and South Korea all made the top 20.
“In fact, China and Hong Kong are home to the region’s top performers in three out of the five pillars underpinning the ranking ― teaching, research and international outlook,” Baty said.
Meanwhile, THE said Indonesia and Malaysia were two emerging players that were shown to have great potential. The data provider on global university rankings noted that Indonesia’s and Malaysia’s standings could improve the quantity and quality of research in the same vein as some of their neighbours.
