Kuala Lampur, July 7 -- South-east Asian higher education is enjoying a moment of pride. The QS World University Rankings 2026 reflect notable institutional progress: Malaysia now leads the region with 10 universities in the Top 500, ahead of Indonesia (5) and Thailand (2) and Singapore (2). The National University of Singapore remains Asean's highest-ranked institution (8th globally), but Malaysia's Universiti Malaya (UM) has surged to 58th, overtaking regional peers like City University of Hong Kong (63), and even some UK Russell Group universities such as Sheffield.

These headline achievements are no accident. They reflect years of strategic investment and reform. Malaysia's 2015-2025 Higher Education Blueprint explicitly aimed to inc...