Kuala lumpur: University rankings such as the QS World University Rankings and the Times Higher Education World University Rankings play a crucial role in positioning Malaysian universities on the global stage, particularly in attracting international collaborations and research funding, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Sufian Jusoh said.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Sufian noted that some academics might argue that rankings are unimportant or place unnecessary pressure on scholars, but he disagreed with them, especially from the perspective of a university administrator committed to national development and the advancement of frontier technologies. He emphasized that university rankings are essential for advancing research in frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), Quantum Computing, the Digital Economy, and clean and green energy.
Sufian stated that Malaysia's aspiration to become a developed, high-income nation requires strong investment in research and development, including increased private-sector funding and deeper collaboration with leading global universities and research institutions. He highlighted that UKM is actively supporting the national agenda under the Pelan Ekonomi MADANI by pursuing partnerships with top universities, funding bodies, and companies worldwide, and noted that rankings have become an important consideration in such engagements.
He explained that rankings serve as a key reference point in collaboration and funding decision-making and are widely regarded as a measure of quality. UKM's current position at 126th in the QS World University Rankings has strengthened its international standing and facilitated strategic partnerships. During a recent visit to one of the top 10 universities, UKM's ranking was a primary point of interest, indicating that many institutions and corporations prefer to work with the top 200 universities.
Sufian mentioned that UKM has successfully secured collaborations and funding from both international and national organizations, and has appointed experts from companies and institutions such as Blackberry, Micron, Sony, a venture capital firm, and an international development bank to its International Advisory Board. As part of its global outreach efforts, UKM is also actively pursuing the establishment of a global campus in Doha, Qatar.
He further stated that as the global economy increasingly values knowledge and intangible assets such as intellectual property and high-impact publications, rankings play a crucial role in measuring technological advancement at both institutional and national levels. He also noted that international rankings are important for countries, citing Malaysia's participation in global assessments like the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) World Competitiveness Ranking and the Global Innovation Index by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).
However, Sufian stressed that rankings are not the sole measure of a university's contributions. He noted that UKM continues to promote knowledge sharing through books, publications in Bahasa Melayu, and community engagement, while assessing academic performance using multiple indicators beyond publications in top-tier journals. In conclusion, he added that while university rankings are not the sole indicators of quality and contributions to the nation, they play an essential role in positioning a university against its international peers and in influencing its ability to attract high-quality academic, industry, and funding partners.