Ukm Soars In The World University Rankings Through Internationalisation Initiatives

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 (Bernama) -- Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) has solidified its position in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2024 with a remarkable upward trajectory highlighted in the international outlook pillar.

As one of Malaysia’s top three universities, UKM received an impressive overall score of 46.7, comprising 45.7 points for teaching, 27.8 points for research environment, 58.7 points for research quality, 47.4 points for industry engagement and 74.9 points for international outlook.

UKM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Ekhwan Toriman said the achievement underscores the institution’s unwavering commitment to nurture a global perspective.

“Through a concerted effort in internationalisation and global initiatives, we have made substantial progress in broadening our international outlook, thus reinforcing our global presence,” he said in a statement today.

He said UKM also has made a pivotal step by establishing the UKM Qatar campus that is set to offer four undergraduate and postgraduate offshore programmes by the end of this year, as well as initiating numerous collaborative programmes involving prestigious international institutions from China, Thailand and Germany.

In the statement, Mohd Ekhwan also highlighted the recent establishment of the Centre for Malaysia-Indonesia Research by the Institute of Malaysia dan International Studies (IKMAS) that will be focusing on producing experts in the fields of Indonesian and Malaysian studies while strengthening the bonds between the two nations.

In addition, he said UKM has inked Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with several esteemed higher education institutions in China to foster collaborative studies and research.

“These initiatives have significantly enhanced UKM’s global visibility, resulting in a growing influx of international students in which the university now has received over 7,000 international applications and currently hosts 5,261 international students across various undergraduate and postgraduate programmes,” he said.

Mohd Ekhwan also emphasised the significance of UKM’s recognition in THE World University Rankings, describing it as a powerful source of motivation for the university’s pursuit of global excellence in education and research.

Currently, UKM offers 16 micro-credential courses and 35 Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC), providing students from across the globe with access to high-quality education.

-- BERNAMA