UM and UPM Rank in Reuters top 75 Asia’s Most Innovative Universities

The Reuters Top 75: Asia’s Most Innovative Universities, through an investigation of several institutions and organisations all over the world, lists an accumulation of educational institutions found to be making the biggest contribution to the global economy through research and the invention of new technologies. Patents acquired are a major player in the methodology used.

Reuters recently realised their list of the universities, where Malaysia’s Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Universiti Malaya (UM) ranked at 73rd and 75th place, respectively.  Although it is noteworthy that two Malaysian universities were ranked within the list, them barely having made the cut may be a cause of concern, in keeping with the policy of innovation at tertiary institutions being held in significance in the country.

However, Reuters emphasises that “just because a country doesn’t have any schools in the Reuters Top 75 doesn’t mean their universities aren’t doing important research. Since the ranking measures innovation on an institutional level, it may overlook particularly innovative departments or programs. A university might rank low for overall innovation, but still operate one of the world’s most innovative nanotechnology laboratories, for instance. And it’s important to remember that whether they rank in the top 10 or somewhere in the 70s, all the universities ranked in the Asia Top 75 count among the world’s best – they all produce original research, create useful technology and stimulate the global economy.”

Northeastern countries in Asia ranked highest in the top 75, with the most influential being South Korea’s Korea Advanced Institute of Science & technology (KAIST). Modeled after engineering schools in the United States, the institution is vehement in its teaching methods relying more on practical skills than textbook learning.

Moreover, Singapore’s universities land outside of the top 10, while several other countries accommodating the region’s largest populations –Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, among others –failed to make the cut.

To read the entire list of institutions ranked in Reuters Top 75: Asia’s Most Innovative Universities, click here.

(photo courtesy: upm.edu.my, scholarshipplanet.info)