Asia University Rankings 2024: revelations of research strength

Our revised rankings methodology shows Asian research is stronger than appreciated, as participation and competition rises across a dynamic region writes Ellie Bothwell

April 30, 2024
Laser beams dance off the skyscrapers in a light show in Shanghai, China to illustrate Powerful revelations
Source: Feature China/Future Publishing/Getty Images

Browse the full results of the Asia University Rankings 2024


The Times Higher Education World University Rankings have tracked the remarkable growth of China’s research strength for 20 years. But it turns out that the country’s research might is even greater than previously recognised.

Our revised and improved methodology – which includes new metrics relating to research quality and patents – highlights performance that was not completely visible in previous rankings. And when we home in on Asia to produce the 12th edition of the Asia University Rankings, we shine a more intense spotlight on the trends from this rapidly developing region of global higher education.

The results show that China receives a boost from our more comprehensive assessment of university research. Japan’s position is also stronger than has been appreciated in the past, as our analysis shows. Meanwhile, other countries have seen a decline in their overall ranking performance, despite improving in the new metrics, reflecting the fierce competition in the continent.

Separate analysis delves into the changing pillar performance of some of the leading universities in the ranking and highlights their differing priorities.

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We also hear directly from the leaders of two established, and rising, institutions about their strategies for the months ahead. Ji-Beom Yoo, president of Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) in South Korea, discusses pressing staff and students to broaden their horizons and allowing failure, and Alexander Ping-kong Wai, president and vice-chancellor of Hong Kong Baptist University, shares his solution to the rapidly changing jobs market.

Meanwhile, Sibrandes Poppema, president of Sunway University in Malaysia, which is ranked for the second time this year, shares how his institution is strengthening links across countries and with industry and society.

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Our view from south Asia comes courtesy of Asghar Zaidi, who was vice-chancellor of Government College University Lahore from 2019 to 2023. He discusses the higher education issues that should be top of the agenda for Pakistan’s new government.

This year, we welcome lots of new institutions to the ranking, too. We rank 739 universities, 70 more than last year, while a further 390 are listed as reporters. Our map shows that many of the newly ranked institutions are based in west or south Asia.

We look forward to tracking their performance over the coming years, using our most robust methodology to date.

ellie.bothwell@timeshighereducation.com


Countries/regions represented in the Asia University Rankings 2024

Country/region

Number of institutions

Top institution

Rank

Japan

119

The University of Tokyo

5

India

91

Indian Institute of Science

32

China

86

Tsinghua University

1

Turkey

75

Koç University

=69

 

 

Middle East Technical University

=69

Iran

73

Sharif University of Technology

=56

Taiwan

45

National Taiwan University (NTU)

26

Pakistan

40

Quaid-i-Azam University

=121

South Korea

39

Seoul National University

14

Indonesia

24

University of Indonesia

201-250

Malaysia

23

Universiti Teknologi Petronas

=52

Saudi Arabia

22

King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals

37

Thailand

19

Chulalongkorn University

117

Iraq

13

University of Technology, Iraq

351-400

Bangladesh

9

Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology

301-350

 

 

Jahangirnagar University

301-350

Israel

8

Tel Aviv University

38

Jordan

7

The University of Jordan

201-250

Hong Kong

6

University of Hong Kong

6

United Arab Emirates

6

Khalifa University

40

Vietnam

6

Ton Duc Thang University

=193

Lebanon

5

American University of Beirut

=131

Philippines

5

Ateneo de Manila University

401-500

Kazakhstan

4

Nazarbayev University

=129

Sri Lanka

4

University of Colombo

401-500

Macao

2

University of Macau

36

Singapore

2

National University of Singapore

3

Brunei Darussalam

1

Universiti Brunei Darussalam

125

Kuwait

1

Kuwait University

401-500

Nepal

1

Tribhuvan University

601+

Oman

1

Sultan Qaboos University

=166

Palestine

1

An-Najah National University

401-500

Qatar

1

Qatar University

=52

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