NUS slips to third place in latest QS 2024 Asia university rankings

SINGAPORE: The most recent Asia university rankings by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) 2024, released on Wednesday (8 Nov), saw the National University of Singapore (NUS) dropping from second to third place.

NUS had previously held the top spot in Asia from 2019 to 2022, and secured second place in the 2023 rankings.

In the current rankings, Peking University of China maintained its top position, while the University of Hong Kong ascended two places to take the second spot.

Nanyang Technological University (NTU) moved up one place to join Tsinghua University in the fourth position, according to the list published by the UK-based higher education consultancy, which highlights the top universities in Asia.

According to Ben Sowter, Vice President of QS, the 2024 ranking represents the largest yet, with a record number of Asian universities.

The 2024 QS Asia Rankings included 856 universities, up from 760 the previous year.

He said this growth signifies a thriving and highly competitive higher education environment, enabling more detailed analysis of institutions for informed student choices and targeted enhancements by the region’s university leaders and policymakers.

These rankings were determined by evaluating various factors such as academic and employer recognition, research quality and quantity, teaching resources, and the proportion of international faculty and students.

Sowter emphasized that Singapore stands out as one of Asia’s leading higher education systems. With two universities in the top five, it demonstrates a remarkable concentration of academic excellence, supported by exceptional research and a collaborative, international perspective.

Regarding the top 10 QS World University Rankings in Asia 2024, institutions have excelled in various areas of institutional performance.

For instance, the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Tsinghua University received a score of 100 in ‘Academic reputation’, Zhejiang University achieved 99.8 in ‘International research network’.

Nanyang Technological University of Singapore (NTU) obtained a perfect score of 100 in ‘Citations per paper’, making it the only institution within the top 10 to achieve this.

In terms of representation, India surpassed China, with 148 Indian institutions making the list, followed by China with 133, and Japan with 96.

Sowter also added that “Asian higher education continues to expand exponentially in scale and remains one of the fastest growing sectors in the world. Nowhere is this better exemplified than in India, which surpasses China for its number of ranked universities. ”

“Meanwhile, the economic landscape of the region remains perennially and uniquely dynamic, with economic miracles and challenges creating an equally dynamic higher education environment.”

As reported by Singapore state media the Straits Times, In response to the rankings, a spokesperson from NUS affirmed the outstanding contributions of the university’s community, including academics, researchers, staff, students, and alumni, who are pioneering advancements for a better and more sustainable world.

“We remain committed to nurturing well-rounded and resilient young minds through interdisciplinary learning; conducting research of high translational value with emphasis on solving world problems; and building up a strong and diverse pool of faculty and scholars.”

In terms of research output, NTU secured the second spot in Asia based on QS’ measurement of scholarly impact, measured by citations per paper.

NUS secured the third position, while the newly ranked Singapore University of Technology and Design holds the 10th position in this aspect.

Similarly, an NTU spokesperson highlighted the university’s continued pursuit of academic excellence, impactful research, innovation, and industry collaboration to address real-world challenges and create meaningful solutions.

“NTU’s good performance is a testament of the hard work and dedication of its faculty and staff to nurture future leaders and create societal impact through innovations in teaching, scientific breakthroughs and research translation.”