KUALA LUMPUR — Two local institutions have successfully placed Malaysia on the global higher education map. Specifically, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) secured positions among the top seven universities worldwide. This historic milestone comes directly from the newly released Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2026.
Historic Global Standings
In fact, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir shared these exciting results today. To evaluate the schools, the annual review looked at more than 1,600 universities across the globe. Essentially, the study measures how well these institutions support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As a result of this competitive pool, USM achieved fifth place globally, while UKM proudly climbed to seventh.
In addition to its high overall ranking, USM successfully retained its first-place global spot for SDG 17. Consequently, this specific category tracks valuable international partnerships for sustainability goals. Ultimately, the new ranking shows that local institutions can easily lead strategic cooperation on a global scale.
Impact Beyond Research
Following the news, Dr Zambry praised the achievement on his official social media channels. Indeed, he noted that the rankings prove local campuses do far more than just teach classes. Instead, they provide real value to society and support vital global climate targets.
Therefore, the minister extended his warm congratulations to the leaders, researchers, and students at both institutions. At the same time, he hopes this historic win will inspire other local schools to grow. Looking ahead, the Ministry aims to use this positive momentum to turn Malaysia into a top hub for international talent.
