SINTOK, 4 November 2025 – Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) has ascended to become the 65th best university in Asia, marking an impressive climb of 43 places over four years (2023–2026).
This remarkable and comprehensive achievement was announced in the QS World University Rankings: Asia 2026, representing UUM’s best performance since its establishment in 1984.
The university’s upward trajectory over the past four years — from 108th in 2023, to 101st in 2024, and 79th in 2025 — reflects the effectiveness of UUM’s strategic initiatives in strengthening its academic reputation, graduate employability, and international research collaborations.
UUM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dato’ Dr. Mohd Foad Sakdan, said that this milestone underscores the unwavering commitment of the entire university community to position UUM as a national management institution of global standing.
“This 65th position is not merely a number in a ranking, but it is a symbol of the perseverance, dedication, and continuous commitment of all UUM staff in upholding excellence in academics, research, and student development.
We are not merely chasing positions, but striving to build trust in the quality, integrity, and impact of the knowledge we share with society,” he said.
The results announced by QS World University Rankings: Asia is based on 11 key indicators: academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty–student ratio, staff with PhD qualifications, papers per faculty, international research network, citations per paper, international faculty, international students, inbound exchange students, and outbound exchange students.
According to Prof. Dr. Mohd Foad, UUM’s strong academic reputation has been the principal driving force behind this success.
“The active engagement of our academics in international collaborative research, high-impact publications, and participation in global academic networks has elevated UUM’s visibility and respect across the Asian region,” he explained.
At the same time, he added, UUM’s growing reputation among employers reflects the rising demand for its graduates, who are increasingly sought after for their professional competence, ethical values, and leadership qualities instilled through a holistic educational experience.
This achievement has further cemented UUM’s position as Malaysia’s leading management university, now gaining greater prominence in Asia in line with its aspiration to become a globally influential centre of educational excellence and thought leadership.
