THE Asia University Rankings 2020 Released

TIMES HIGHER EDUCATION ANNOUNCE 2020 RESULTS FOR ITS ASIA UNIVERSITY RANKINGS

• Latest THE Asia University Rankings demonstrate growing strength of institutions across Asia
• Tsinghua University retains first place as Mainland China claims top 2 spots for first time
• Record total of universities qualify for ranking, with 489 institutions included, a 17% increase from 2019
• More countries and regions represented in the top 100 than ever before (21) with 30 countries and regions represented overall
• 78 new universities included for the first time
• Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University and the National University of Singapore continue to hold top 10 spots, a feat achieved every year since rankings began
• Covid-19’s effect on global higher education could benefit Asian institutions in future years

 London, 3 June 2020

Released today, the 8th edition of Times Higher Education’s (THE) Asia University Rankings reveals Asian institutions are continuing to establish themselves as key players in global higher education. With universities from 21 countries and regions represented in the top 100, more than ever before, it is clear that higher education across Asia is continuing to grow in strength.

After becoming the first Chinese university to achieve top place in the ranking in 2019, Tsinghua University retains the position for a second year in a row. This is despite an additional 72 universities qualifying for the 2020 ranking, bringing the total to 489, an increase of 17%. Institutions from a record 30 countries and regions are included. Mainland China’s Peking University rises from 5^th to 2^nd, giving Mainland China the top two spots for the first time since the rankings began. Mainland China also sees three institutions in the top 10 for the first time, with the University of Science and Technology of China the only new entrant in the top 10, moving up from 12^th to =10^th (joint with SKKU, South Korea’s Sungkyunkwan University).

Despite the University of Science and Technology of China’s rise, all institutions from 2019’s top 10 remain in the top 10 in 2020. Singapore’s National University of Singapore (3^rd) and Nanyang Technological University (6^th) continue an incredible run of attaining top 10 finishes every year since the rankings began in 2013. 

Mainland China dominates a largely unchanged top 20, occupying seven positions, followed by South Korea (5). Shanghai Jiao Tong University (19^th) is the only new entrant moving up five places from 24^th and replacing Hong Kong Polytechnic University which swaps to 24^th from 20^th in 2019. Mainland China continues its domination into the top 50 with 13 universities in the bracket, followed by South Korea (9), Japan and Hong Kong (both 5).

Meanwhile, Japan dominates once again in terms of representation in the ranking as 110 Japanese universities qualify, with University of Tokyo (7^th) the top performing institution. They are followed by Mainland China, represented by 81 universities, and India (56), where the Indian Institute of Science (36th) ranks highest. India also sees strong improvement for some of its older Indian Institutes of Technology, with IIT Kharagpur (59^th) ranking 17 places higher than the previous year, IIT Delhi (67^th) moving up 24 places, and IIT Bombay (69^th) climbing 15 from 2019’s ranking.

With 78 institutions qualifying for the THE Asia University Rankings 2020 for the first time, bringing the total to 489, and a record 30 countries and regions represented, the competition across the region has never been greater. Iran and Turkey (11) both recorded the largest rise in representation from the 2019 to 2020 rankings, Iran increasing from 29 to 40, and Turkey from 23 to 34. Brunei Darussalam and Vietnam were the only two countries who had institutions qualify for the first time. Their top performers saw the Universiti Brunei Darussalam place in the top 100 (60^th) and the Vietnam National University, Hanoi among the top 250 (201-250). Furthermore, six of Pakistan’s 14 entrants qualify for the first time, including a top 100 finish for Quaid-i-azam University (75^th).

Macao’s Macau University of Science and Technology is the highest ranked debutant (32^nd) this year, with 9 others achieving top 100 places on their first appearance. These include Mainland China’s Beijing Normal University (45^th), India’s Indian Institute of Technology Ropar (47^th), Japan’s University of Occupational and Environmental Health (57^th) and Brunei Darussalam’s Universiti Brunei Darussalam (joint 60^th), the country’s first university to enter the rankings. The remaining debutants in the top 100 include Turkey’s Cankaya University (joint 65^th), Sri Lanka’s University of Peradeniya (=69^th), Pakistan’s Quaid-i-azam University (joint 75^th), Iran’s Yasouj University (89^th), and India’s Institute of Chemical Technology (92^nd).

Phil Baty, Chief Knowledge Officer, THE, commented:

“The continuing changes we are seeing within higher education in Asia are incredibly exciting. With 21 countries and regions represented in the top 100 and a record number of universities qualifying for the THE Asia Rankings 2020, not only do these rankings demonstrate to the world the strength of higher education across Asia, but they show that Asia’s universities are continuing to establish themselves among the world’s very best.

“Covid-19 will undoubtedly have a significant effect on higher education across the world. This could include disruption to global talent flow with talent that may have previously moved from Asia to western universities staying in the region. If this plays out, Asian universities are in a fantastic position to continue to boost their international competitiveness.”

 (Press releases available upon request for China, India, Japan, and South Korea)