In the 2024 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, Vietnam has reason to celebrate as six of its universities have secured coveted positions. However, there's a mix of success, as three of these institutions have seen a dip in their rankings compared to the previous year.
The six Vietnamese universities making their presence felt on the global stage are:
- Duy Tan University in Da Nang: This institution, along with Ton Duc Thang University in Ho Chi Minh City, has led the charge among these universities. However, they've faced a decline in their rankings, moving from the 401-500 range last year to the 601-800 range.
- Vietnam National University in Hanoi: This university has also experienced a decline, shifting from the 1,001-1,200 bracket to the 1,201-1,500 range.
- Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Vietnam National University in HCMC, and Hue University have managed to maintain their positions in the group of universities ranked beyond 1,500.
These rankings are meticulously determined by assessing each institution's performance in five crucial areas: teaching quality, research environment, research caliber, industry connections, and international engagement.
At the zenith of the global rankings, the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom retains its prestigious title as the world's number-one university for an impressive eighth consecutive year. Yet, there's been a shuffle in the top five, with Stanford University in the United States ascending to second place, pushing Harvard University down to fourth. Meanwhile, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has risen two spots to secure third place, while the University of Cambridge has slipped to fifth.
An exciting addition to the rankings is Italy's Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, making its debut in the 301-350 category. Notably, many of the institutions entering the rankings for the first time this year are located in Asia.
In terms of overall representation, the United States leads with 169 universities on the list, including 56 in the top 200. Meanwhile, India has made significant strides, becoming the fourth most represented nation with 91 institutions, surpassing China, which boasts 86.
Additionally, four countries—Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Armenia—have made their inaugural appearance in the rankings. This marks a departure from the previous year when all new entrants hailed from Africa.