Kuala lumpur: Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) have put Malaysia on the global map after securing places among the world's top seven universities in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2026. Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir announced that USM was ranked fifth globally and UKM seventh among more than 1,600 universities assessed for their performance in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dr Zambry emphasized that USM retained its top global position in SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, highlighting the capacity of Malaysian universities to lead international strategic cooperation. He noted that this accomplishment demonstrates Malaysian universities' capabilities in teaching and research, as well as their contributions to society and the global sustainability agenda.

Dr Zambry also extended his congratulations to the university leadership, academics, researchers, staff, and students for their achievement. He expressed hope that this success would serve as a driving force to further strengthen the excellence of national higher education and establish Malaysia as a world-class higher education hub.