Singapore Outshines Catalogue of Finest Asian Universities

LONDON, March 16: The Times Higher Education (THE) has announced the Asia University Rankings (https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2017/regional-ranking) which positions the best institutions from 24 Asian nations as well as expanses. Singapore's National University of Singapore grades first generally, closely trailed by Nanyang Technological University in fourth place.

For the second year consecutively, Singapore's National University along with China's Peking University graded first and second correspondingly. Just two Japanese institutes emerge in the best 20, notwithstanding the nation's robust representation in the standings with 69 universities encompassed; nearly a quarter (23%) of the leading 300 list. Following Mainland China with six universities in the leading 20, Hong Kong and South Korea are fairly represented with five institutions each.

On Singapore's achievement, Phil Baty the editor of the Times Higher Education rankings, revealed, “It is fantastic news that Singapore has topped our list of Asia's best universities, with the National University of Singapore clinging on to the number one spot for the second year in a row, despite increasing pressure from China. But its younger sister Nanyang Technological University has slipped from joint second to fourth place. Both institutions improved their overall scores in the tables since last year, but China's Peking and Tsinghua universities improved by a larger margin, resulting in their second and third rankings respectively this year. This is largely due to the Chinese universities receiving much higher scores for their teaching and research, environments. Tsinghua's score for citations also jumped this year. Singapore has introduced powerful policy drives, backed with serious funding, to produce world-class universities. Its Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (Create), launched in 2006, enables researchers from some of the world's top universities to work together to perform cutting-edge research, while its $603.3 million Research Centres of Excellence initiative, launched in 2007, has helped spur research excellence at its universities. The city-state now spends 2.2 per cent of its GDP on research and development, up from 1.8 in 2000 -- more than China and the UK. Singapore is one of the top performing nations in the table given its GDP. Overall this ranking of Asia's best 300 universities proves what a dynamic, diverse and competitive higher education region the continent is becoming - and Singapore is a key part of that development."

Of the Southeast Asian expanse overall, Phil Baty commented, “Singapore is the higher education star of the Southeast Asian region, with its national university topping the ranking for the second year in a row. Its younger sister Nanyang Technological University is not far behind in fourth place, but it drops two places this year despite an improved performance due to stiff competition from China. Thailand is also facing a tough contest, with all seven of its established universities dropping down the table, due to other institutions improving at a faster rate. But the expansion of the ranking to include 300 universities, up from 200 last year, provides good news elsewhere in the region. Malaysia, for instance, has nine representatives, up from four last year, with its flagship institution, the University of Malaya, debuting at 59th place. Indonesia has also doubled its representation to two. And the Philippines make the table for the first time, with the University of the Philippines joining the 201-250 cohort. Overall this ranking of Asia's best 300 universities proves what a dynamic, diverse and competitive higher education region the continent is becoming - and the southeast Asian region is a key part of that development. It must make sure it doesn't get left behind."