NUS ranked number 1 in Asia

NUS has emerged as Asia’s top university in the latest 2014 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) University Rankings: Asia released today. Since the rankings were first compiled in 2009, NUS has made rapid progress up its charts, from an original 10th placing to second last year and finally an unprecedented first in 2014.

The University continues to be rated highly overall, showing strong performance across most of the indicators, including topping the list once again for employer reputation and being second in Asia for academic reputation.

NUS has also been rated as Asia’s top three universities across all disciplines measured. The University retains its placing as the region’s best in Social Sciences & Management, as well as second in the areas of Arts & Humanities, Engineering & Technology, and Life Sciences & Medicine. It has also come in third for Natural Sciences, up one spot from last year.

Said NUS President Professor Tan Chorh Chuan: “We are pleased and honoured to be recognised as Asia’s top university. This is a strong affirmation of our distinctive education and excellent research, and a testament to the high quality work by our talented team of faculty, staff and students. As a global university in Asia, we will continue to forge close collaborations with institutions around the world, and spearhead education innovations that will contribute to Singapore, Asia and beyond.”

“In a global context, the higher education world is increasingly looking East for inspiration. In global rankings the last decade has seen institutions in Singapore, Hong Kong, China and South Korea in particular command an increasing presence and respect amongst the world’s elite. As English-speaking and major international transit hubs, Singapore and Hong Kong enjoy some natural competitive advantages and have long dominated the top few places in this table,” noted Mr Ben Sowter, QS Head of Research.

He added: “However, NUS taking the top spot this year has also been the product of its undeniable evolution to world-class with cutting edge education and research augmented by pragmatic and consistent leadership, strong institutional branding and exceptional financial management. NUS has not only taken the top spot this year but equipped itself with the tools it is likely to need to stay there.”

Published annually, the QS University Rankings: Asia ranks the top 300 universities in the region based on relevant criteria including academic reputation, employer reputation, student/faculty ratio, papers per faculty, citations per paper, internationalisation, student exchange inbound and student exchange outbound.

This article was first published on 13 May 2014 in NUS News by Office of Corporate Relations at http://news.nus.edu.sg/highlights/7676-nus-ranked-number-1-in-asia