Two of Malaysia’s leading public universities, the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), have acheieved a significant milestone by securing positions among the top 10 universities in the world in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impeach Rankings 2026.
The achievement was highlighted by Minister of Higher Education, Zambry Abd Kadir which marks a major recognition of Malaysia’s growing presence in global higher education.
What are the THE Impact Rankings?
Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings evaluate universities based on their contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), unlike traditional university rankings that focus mainly on academic reputation, research output, or teaching quality.
The SDGs are 17 global goals set by the United Nations to address major challenges such as poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental protection, and global partnerships. Universities are assessed on how their teaching, research, outreach, and institutional policies contribute to these goals. This means the ranking reflects how much a university is making a real-world social and environmental impact, rather than only academic excellence.
Malaysia’s Strong Performance on the Global Stage
In the 2026 edition of the rankings, both USM and UKM stood out among more than 1,600 universities worldwide:
- USM achieved an impressive 5th place globally
- UKM secured 7th place globally
This places both institutions within the elite group of universities worldwide that are leading in sustainability and societal impact.
USM’s Global Leadership in Partnerships (SDG 17)
Apart from the THE Impact Rankings, one of the most notable achievements is USM’s performance in SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, where it is ranked number 1 in the world.
SDG 17 focuses on collaboration between universities, governments, industries, and international organisations. It measures how effectively an institution builds global partnerships to solve complex challenges such as public health, climate action, and sustainable development. USM’s top ranking in this category suggests that it has become a global leader in fostering international cooperation and strategic collaboration for development goals.
According to the Higher Education Minister, these achievements strengthen Malaysia’s position as an emerging global hub for higher education, capable of competing with some of the world’s most prestigious universities.
This recognition is also expected to boost the reputation of Malaysian universities among international students, researchers, and academic partners. It demonstrates that institutions in Malaysia are not only focused on academic excellence but are also deeply involved in addressing global issues.
As the world increasingly values sustainability and impact-driven education, the success of USM and UKM marks an important step forward for Malaysia’s higher education landscape.
Source: NST
