UM climbed five spots from 65th last year in the 21st edition of the rankings.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia progressed as well, securing the 138th spot after a 21-place leap, followed by Universiti Sains Malaysia (146th), Universiti Putra Malaysia (148th), and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (181st).
Taylor’s University maintained its position at 251st, retaining its status as the top private university in Malaysia, trailed by USCI University and Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS.
A QS statement said that Malaysia boasts 28 higher education institutions in the rankings, with 14 improving their standings, eight maintaining stability, and six witnessing a decline in rank. This resulted in an overall improvement rate of 29% for Malaysia.
It said five Malaysian universities secured positions among the world’s top 100 for the international student ratio indicator, while four universities ranked among the top 200 for the international faculty ratio.
“Malaysia is making significant strides towards its ambitious goal of attracting 250,000 international students by 2025,” it said.
QS also said the Education Malaysia Global Services promotes Malaysia as a study destination, estimating foreign enrolment at between 130,000 and 170,000 students in 2022, primarily from China, Indonesia, Bangladesh, India, and Nigeria.
But while Malaysia’s universities are gaining academic recognition, QS noted a decline in employer recognition, with 22 out of 26 ranked universities experiencing drops in this aspect.
“Despite progress in other areas, Malaysia’s research impact still falls short compared to its regional and global peers,” it said.
QS senior vice-president Ben Sowter said Malaysia’s journey to becoming a high-income nation relies heavily on the quality of its educational system.
He said it was important to develop a strong educational foundation at the primary and secondary levels to nurture the next generation of university students.
“Their learning experience needs to include emerging skills and competencies, fostering both the technical and human skills required to thrive in an increasingly AI-centric global economy,” he added.
Sowter said this approach was crucial not only for sustaining economic growth but also for meeting the increasing demand for a skilled workforce as Malaysia competes with regional peers like Singapore, Korea, and Vietnam.