Taylor’s University is now ranked 27th in the QS Asia University Rankings 2026.
TAYLOR’S University has solidified its ascent to becoming a top university in Asia after officially entering the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Asia University Rankings 2026’s Top 30 universities in the region.
Now ranked 27th, the university has cemented its position as South-East Asia’s leading private university for the fifth consecutive year, affirming its reputation as one of the region’s most progressive and future-focused institutions.
The jump up the rankings represents a significant leap forward across key indicators, with progress in areas such as Academic Reputation, Citations per Paper and International Research Network.
Advancing a purposeful vision
The rise up the rankings represents Taylor’s commitment to purposeful investment in academic talent, research capability and institutional governance.
Taylor’s University vice-chancellor and president Professor Barry Winn highlighted the importance of this recognition in strengthening the university’s vision for education to be both transformative and globally relevant.
“We are dedicated to delivering excellence through a purposeful approach, ensuring every initiative, partnership and innovation is aligned with our mission to foster personal growth, societal impact and sustainable development,” said Taylor’s University vice-chancellor and president Professor Barry Winn.
“The continuous rise in our ranking reflects our commitment to quality education. We are dedicated to delivering excellence through a purposeful approach, ensuring every initiative, partnership and innovation is aligned with our mission to foster personal growth, societal impact and sustainable development,” he said.
This adherence to quality was also validated by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency’s recent conferment of Self-Accreditation Status to the university, endorsed by the Higher Education Ministry (MOHE).
This distinction is held by only 20 institutions nationwide.
This recognition represents the trust in Taylor’s academic governance and quality assurance, empowering the university to accredit its own programmes and reinforce global confidence in the quality and employability of its graduates.
The exclusive dialogue session exposed students to leadership, diplomacy and cross-cultural perspectives.
Embedding global insight
Taylor’s defines world-class education as one that extends beyond academic excellence but instead develops graduates who are globally conscious, adaptable and ready to lead change.
The university strengthens its academic offerings and ensures curriculum relevance by engaging distinguished adjunct professors and an Industry Advisory Panel (IAP).
These experts and thought leaders contribute by delivering guest lectures and mentoring students, as well as guiding research projects and curriculum design, elevating the institution’s academic stature.
This direct access enriches student learning with real-world learning perspectives to enhance their critical thinking and global awareness, while ensuring that graduates meet current global and industry demands.
The university’s emphasis on academic excellence and thought leadership, for example, is reflected in the appointment of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta as an Honorary Adjunct Professor for Taylor’s University.
Recently, the university held an exclusive dialogue session with President José Ramos-Horta, organised by the Bachelor in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) (Honours) programme, exposing Taylor’s students to leadership, diplomacy and cross-cultural perspectives, while creating meaningful, globally relevant learning experiences.
PPE programme director Dr Deboshree Ghosh said this initiative reflects Taylor’s strategy of becoming a global hub for thought leadership by attracting influential leaders and thinkers to engage with students.
“The dialogue session aligns with the university’s goal of integrating philosophy, politics and economics to analyse global challenges, fostering critical thinking, ethical leadership and global awareness—key elements of Taylor’s academic vision and programme aim,” said PPE programme director Dr Deboshree Ghosh.
“The session was organised to provide students with the opportunity to engage with President José Ramos-Horta, following Timor-Leste’s recent accession to Asean,” she said.
“The dialogue aims to explore the significance of this milestone for regional cooperation and to inspire students to think critically about the region’s evolving role in global affairs.
“It aligns with the university’s goal of integrating philosophy, politics and economics to analyse global challenges, fostering critical thinking, ethical leadership and global awareness—key elements of Taylor’s academic vision and programme aim.”
PPE programme students Chow Yan Wei and Sri Krishna Anuj Saripali, who participated in the session, echoed the transformative value of the experience.
For Chow, the dialogue offered a unique perspective that transcends textbooks.
“It’s not every day you get the chance to attend such an event. While anyone can read articles and reports about past events, hearing directly from someone who lived through them offered a far deeper understanding,” he said.
“It allowed us to see the human side behind major global decisions, as listening to President José Ramos-Horta’s reflections helped me visualise those moments more vividly and encouraged me to approach my own reports and analyses from new perspectives.”
Meanwhile, new enrollee Sri Krishna, who hails from India, found the session to be highly inspirational, as it “shifted his worldview” on global issues.
He was particularly moved by President José Ramos-Horta’s emphasis on the value of education, as well as his reflections on leadership, diplomacy and global roles.
Shaping the future of education
Guided by a 10-year strategic vision aimed at transforming the university into a future-ready institution of global standing, Taylor’s strives to continue strengthening its position as the region’s leading private university.
A key part of this growth entails continuous improvement in teaching, research and student experience.
Moreover, the university’s 99.5% graduate employment rate, as recorded by MOHE in 2024, surpasses the national average of 92.5%.
This demonstrates the value of the institution’s long-term plan in producing future-ready graduates who could thrive in a global economy.
For more information, visit university.taylors.edu.my
