Asia University Rankings 2024: revelations of research strength

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.

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.

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