Malaysian higher education system continues to rise in global rankings

The Malaysian sector for higher education continues to rise in the annual global rankings by global higher education analysts QS Quacquarelli Symonds.

QS recorded year on year increases in the number of Malaysian programmes achieving top-50, top-100 and top-200 ranks, according to the 12th edition of the QS World University Rankings by Subject.

“Malaysia is fifth in Asia for the number of ranked programmes — 207 (25 more than last year) and sixth for the number of ranked universities — 24 (four more than last year),” Ben Sowter, Director of Research at QS, said in a statement today.

Malaysian universities featuring in 42 of the 51 subject rankings were also recorded by QS along with 207 entries - 25 are brand new, 78 maintained the previous year’s rank, 49 declined and 55 rose.

Top five subjects featured for the number of Malaysian universities are: Business and Management Studies (13); Computer Science and Information Systems (13); Engineering — Electrical and Electronic (13); Engineering — Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing; and Medicine (nine).

Universiti Malaya (UM) is currently the most represented national university in the rankings, at 37 subjects.

It is then followed by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (25 subjects), Universiti Putra Malaysia (24 subjects), Universiti Sains Malaysia (24 subjects) and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (17 subjects). 

Among other highlights that the QS shared include Taylor’s University as the nation’s top ranking institute for its performance in Hospitality and Leisure Management, where it climbed up to the 16th position in this discipline. 

“UCSI University breaks into the top 20 for Performing Arts. 

“The third-best national rank is achieved by Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) in Petroleum Engineering, while two more universities break into the top 30 — UM (28th for globally in Library and Information Management) and International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) (28th for globally in Theology, Divinity and Religious Studies),” said Sowter.

He then added that 10 Malaysian university departments are featured among the world’s top 50, increasing two more from last year.

However, UTP was not included in the top 50 in this edition of QS for Engineering — Mineral and Mining, while three departments broke into this tier: UM for Theology, Divinity and Religious Studies, and UCSI and University and Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), both for Hospitality and Leisure Management.