Kuala lumpur: Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has stated that its performance in the THE Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026 should be evaluated in accordance with the rating's specific methodology, which focuses on universities' contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), rather than comparing it directly with other university ranking systems.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, USM Vice-Chancellor Professor Datuk Seri Ir Dr Abdul Rahman Mohamed clarified that the Sustainability Impact Ratings uniquely assess institutions based on their impact across the SDGs, including areas such as research, teaching, governance, institutional operations, partnerships, and community engagement. He emphasized that comparisons with global ranking systems like the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings or QS World University Rankings are not suitable, given that each framework has distinct objectives, indicators, weightings, and methodologies.
'A ranking should be interpreted based on what it measures, not merely on figures or headlines,' he stated in a press release. Abdul Rahman highlighted USM's position among the world's top five universities in the THE Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026 and its leading status in SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, viewing these as acknowledgments of its impactful initiatives developed with strategic partners, communities, industry, government, and international networks.
He welcomed public discourse on higher education, university excellence, and global ranking systems but emphasized that discussions should be rooted in facts, methodological understanding, and context. Constructive criticism, he noted, is vital in an informed society as it allows higher education institutions to reflect, enhance accountability, and improve their contribution to the nation.
Abdul Rahman reiterated that USM does not regard any single ranking as an absolute measure of university excellence but as one of several international benchmarks that help identify strengths, highlight areas for improvement, and enhance societal impact. 'What matters most is how universities continue to demonstrate their value through quality education, problem-solving research, meaningful innovation, competitive graduates, integrity-driven governance, and strategic collaborations that support national development,' he emphasized.
He concluded by stating that the true strength of a university lies not only in its ranking position but in how its knowledge, research, expertise, and values benefit students, society, industry, the nation, and the wider world.