Top in Asean: Sunway University is ranked number one in Asean.
NEWLY released ranking results suggest that the centre of gravity in Asean’s higher education system is shifting towards Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia, with institutions from these three countries dominating the top 10 spots in AppliedHE’s private and public university lists.
The South East Asia-based higher education ranking and rating agency released the results of its second Public and Private University Ranking: Asean 2025 on Nov 18.
The ranking only includes universities located in Asean countries that award locally accredited degrees and has a strong focus on quality of teaching and learning, and employability. Research, Internationalisation, Community Engagement, and Institutional Reputation, or brand value, are also included.
National University of Singapore topped the most highly ranked public universities list, followed by its city-state rival Nanyang Technological University, and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, in second and third place respectively.
Universiti Malaya and Universiti Sains Malaysia also made it into the top 10 public universities list.
The top private university in Asean for the second consecutive time is Malaysia’s Sunway University.
Parmjit
Sunway University president Prof Sibrandes Poppema said varsity rankings highlight the competition between institutions, which is “something positive”. “Sunway University, including all its staff and diverse stakeholders have worked incredibly hard to achieve this result. I am extremely proud of our number one position for two years in a row,” he said in a press release.
Six private Malaysian universities are in the top 10 with Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) and Taylor’s University ranked in the top five.
At fourth spot, APU is the second-highest-ranked private university in Malaysia.
Describing it as a significant milestone for the institution, APU CEO Datuk Parmjit Singh said the ranking is a remarkable accomplishment that mirrors the varsity’s relentless pursuit of academic excellence, innovation, and global impact. It’s a testament to the dedication of our students, staff, alumni, and partners.
“Together, we continue to inspire and lead with a focus on shaping the future of education and technology,” he said.
Prof Mohd Shukri
The other universities ranked in the top 10 are City University, Management and Science University (MSU) and Infrastructure University Kuala Lumpur.
Congratulating its students, staff members, alumni, and stakeholders for their dedication to excellence, MSU president and founder Prof Tan Sri Dr Mohd Shukri Ab Yajid said collaborations with key industry partners and other institutions, including global entities, have played a pivotal role in the varsity’s endeavours towards sustainability.
“At MSU, embracing sustainability is not a recent development but a longstanding tradition, deeply rooted in our institutional values and practices.
“MSU continues to integrate SDG values across the varsity in central components, transforming and refining research, publication, intercultural learning, and community engagement efforts.
MSU is at seventh spot in the rankings which are based on a mix of university-submitted and publicly available data.
Prof Poppema
Universities that submit data have their information audited by AppliedHE, and distribute the AppliedHE Ranking Student Survey to their students.
External data from Google Scholar and Google News are also used, alongside a system of peer nominations, whereby universities can nominate other institutions which they hold in high regard.
For universities that do not submit data, AppliedHE uses estimated or publicly available data.
Commenting on the rankings, its founder and chief executive officer Mandy Mok said AppliedHE tries to measure what matters most to students and their parents as “it’s important that we give students and parents different perspectives on higher education”.
