Finally... Back to top 200

Thursday October 8, 2009

UNIVERSITI MALAYA CLIMBS 50 SPOTS TO NO. 180 IN THE-QS RANKINGS

BY KAREN CHAPMAN

PETALING JAYA: Universiti Malaya (UM) has put Malaysia back in the
top 200 of the prestigious Times Higher Education (THE) QS
World University Rankings 2009 when it climbed 50 places from last
year to 180 this year.

QS managing director Nunzio Quacquarelli said the rankings
identified not just the most highly-ranked universities in the world,
but also the best performing universities in key subject areas, the
universities most targeted by employers, those producing the best
research, those investing in teaching and those with the most
international profile.

Another local university that improved in rankings was Universiti
Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), standing at 320 compared to 356 last year.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Sains Malaysia
(USM) and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) dropped between one and 41
places to 291, 314 and 345 respectively.

QS Quacquarelli Symonds Ltd Intelligence Unit head Ben Sowter said
UM resurgence into the top 200 was clearly impressive.

The apparent collective effort at the university to attract
a greater proportion of international students suggests a progressive
outlook, he said in an e-mail interview.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin told
/The Star/ that the ministry knew the universities weaknesses
were in citations per faculty and peer review.

Harvard University tops the rankings once again; followed by
Cammridge, Yale, University College London, Imperial College,
Oxford University, Chicago University, Princeton University,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology and California Institute of
Technology. The highest ranked Asian institutions in the rankings are
Tokyo University (22), Hong Kong University (24), Kyoto University
(25) and National University of Singapore (30).

UM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Ghauth Jasmon said the success
would be a major boost to the morale and motivation of all staff and
students to work harder.

The redefinition of key performance indicators for the
academics and the new initiatives implemented in international
networking, recruitment of international staff and students have
produced a quick, positive impact, he said.

UTM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Zaini Ujang said the improvement
in the university rankings is a result of its strategy in
networking, quality, strategic research, synergy and organisational
culture.

On UKM drop from 250 to 291, its deputy vice-chancellor
(Academic and International Affairs) Prof Dr Hassan Basri said the
university was not surprised by the drop as THE-QS had indicated that
the methodological adjustments and survey dynamics would significantly
contribute to a drop in the scores for the academic peer review and
employer survey criteria over a three-year period starting in the
year 2008.

UPM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Nik Mustapha R. Abdullah said he
was surprised that the university rankings dropped as its
achievements were better last year compared to previously.

-The Star-

p/s: Syabas UM. Sama-sama kita Memartabatkan Ilmu, Menjulang Bangsa, Membina Tamadun, Mengagungkan Agama. Ayuh Bangkit Mahasiswa...!!!