UGM Soars 18 Places to Rank 206th in QS World University Rankings 2027
Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) has released the QS World University Rankings 2027. Out of 1,504 higher education institutions assessed, UGM successfully placed 206th in the world, rising 18 places from last year’s position of 224th.
Rector of Universitas Gadjah Mada, Prof. dr. Ova Emilia, Ph.D., stated that the improvement in UGM’s ranking is the result of the academic community’s hard work across various achievements in the three pillars of higher education.
“The main key is UGM’s extraordinary Social Capital in the three pillars. Education whose reputation is recognised by stakeholders, innovative and contextual research that answers the challenges of societal problems, and community service that touches the important joints of the nation’s needs,” the Rector said on Thursday (18/6).
According to the Rector, the improvement in UGM’s ranking position in the QS WUR was driven by enhanced performance in almost all assessment indicators. One of the main drivers is academic reputation, which is increasingly recognised globally, placing UGM 131st in the world for the Academic Reputation indicator.
“This recognition reflects the strengthening of teaching quality, research productivity, and the scientific contributions of UGM’s academic community in the eyes of the international academic community,” she said.
The Rector noted that internationalisation has become an important pillar in UGM’s ranking rise. The involvement of foreign academics on campus has grown stronger, while international research collaboration networks have expanded, signalling an intensification of research cooperation with partners from various countries.
“UGM’s appeal to international students has also increased, strengthening the campus’s image as a relevant and competitive study destination at the global level,” she said.
Furthermore, UGM’s commitment to the sustainable development agenda received special recognition in this ranking edition. The university occupies the leading position in Indonesia on the Sustainability indicator.
In the realm of relations with the world of work, UGM’s reputation among employers remains strong, with the university ranking 100th globally for Employer Reputation—and nationally holding second position for the Employer Reputation, Employment Outcomes, and Academic Reputation indicators.
The Rector also acknowledged that improvements in the student-to-faculty ratio and the expansion of international research networks, which were assessed for this ranking rise, reflect UGM’s strategy focused on enhancing education quality and strengthening research capacity.
“These steps not only improve the position in the rankings but also strengthen graduates’ readiness to face the challenges of the working world and increase the university’s contribution to sustainable development,” she explained.
For the Rector, the rise to 206th in the world in the QS WUR 2027 serves as important capital for UGM to continue attracting talent, expanding international collaboration, and increasing its academic and social impact.
“This result reinforces UGM’s position as one of the leading universities in Indonesia and Southeast Asia, while affirming the institution’s commitment to continue advancing on the global higher education stage,” she asserted.