AT the Rookies World University Rankings, the nation’s leading art and design institution, The One Academy has taken the global spotlight, once again putting Malaysia on the world map. This prestigious platform celebrates creativity across fields such as games, animation, visual effects, immersive media, graphic design, motion graphics and architectural visualisation and is recognised as the ultimate benchmark for creative excellence worldwide.
The Rookies World University Rankings is an annual ranking judged solely on how well a school prepares its students to produce a world-class portfolio, with no influence from application numbers or advertising revenue. It serves as the definitive measure of creative excellence, recognising universities and colleges worldwide that consistently produce top-tier talent across diverse creative disciplines. This year’s edition received 6,577 entries from 486 schools across 104 countries, reviewed by 132 renowned creative professionals.
In the 2025 Rookies World University Rankings, The One Academy achieved outstanding placements across multiple categories, outshining creative powerhouses from the United States, Spain and Germany. Placed prominently among the ‘Top Global Creative Schools’, it ranked No. 1 for Graphic Design, Immersive Media, as well as Web and App Design; Top 2 for Concept Art; Top 3 for Product and Industrial Design; Top 5 for Motion Graphics; Top 7 for 2D Animation and Top 9 for Architectural Visualisation.
To ensure the legitimacy of these prestigious titles, the institution’s overall standing is also determined by calculating the median student score. Bonus points are granted to students designated as finalists, highly commended, runners-up, or winners in each category.
Students of The One Academy took centre stage with several individual award wins for their incredible projects. The Rookie of the Year title for Web and App Design was awarded to Tan Ning. Angelina Vivian Kay won the People’s Choice Award for Immersive Media, while Yap Li Wen and Gavin Gan Zi Yang earned Runner-Up titles in Web and App Design as well as in Immersive Media, respectively.
“One key reminder from my lecturer was to ‘do good projects’. This mindset pushed me to look for real problems rather than simply designing something that looks nice. It helped me think about the people I am designing for,” said Tan Ning of her remarkable achievement.
Lastly, the Career Opportunities Award (sponsored by PlaySide Studios) in the Concept Art category was awarded to Tan Mei Shan. This special award goes beyond creative excellence, it recognises one talented participant who can effectively position themselves in a real-world career setting. As part of the award, Mei Shan will be given a four-week paid onsite internship with PlaySide Studios, an Australian video game developer and publisher.
“This award has given me more confidence to keep creating. It feels like a sign that I’m on the right path and I hope to carry this motivation forward,” Mei Shan shared.
It takes confidence to submit students’ creative artworks internationally to be evaluated. The One Academy’s achievements in the Rookies World University Rankings and its recognition as the top creative education institution highlights its commitment to student success. By taking part in competitions like this, it not only solidifies the college’s position among industry giants but gives their students the confidence and reassurance they deserve for their exceptional skills.
The One Academy is committed to providing the best art education programmes and continues to nurture its students passionately through its “Masters Train Masters” coaching philosophy, which has been practised for over 35 years.
The institution offers diploma and degree courses in Graphic Design: Advertising and Branding, Digital Animation, Digital Media Design, Interior Architecture and Design, Illustration, Fine Arts, as well as Paris Fashion Design and Pattern Making.
For more information, visit www.toa.edu.my or call 03-7875 5510 or e-mail your enquiries to info@toa.edu.my.
