SHAH ALAM, SEP 23: Seven universities in this country were ranked among the top 980, in the 2016 – 2017 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Ranking.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) were ranked within the 601-800 category while Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) was ranked in the 801 and above category.
Meanwhile, Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) and Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) made it into the list for the first time being ranked in 601-800 category and the above 800 category respectively.
“It is great news that seven Malaysian universities made it into the list of world’s best universities, including five being ranked in the top 601-800,” said World University Ranking (THE) editor, Phil Baty.
Quoting Bernama, Baty said that Malaysia made huge investments in higher education and has been marketing itself lately as a knowledge economy and innovation hub.
“Nevertheless, public universities in the country are facing a 15% budget cut this year, due to economic slowdown as a result of declining oil and commodity prices,” he said.
Overall, 21 universities in the region made it into the list this year, compared to 15 universities last year. The Philippines was listed for the first time, while Indonesia managed to double its total to two universities in the list.
The five best universities in the world are Oxford University in the United Kingdom, the first on the list; followed by California Institute of Technology and Stanford University, both in the US; Cambridge University in United Kingdom in fourth place; and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, US in fifth place.
7 Malaysian universities amongst world’s best 980
