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In a bid to foster academic quality, research collaboration, and institutional resilience beyond a focus on global university rankings, ASEAN universities are exploring innovative strategies.
**1. Enhance Research Collaboration**
One key approach is the establishment of a regional research grant fund, modelled after the EU's Horizon Europe programme. This fund would support collaborative research across multiple countries, focusing on shared challenges such as climate change, agriculture, and health systems. Additionally, inter-institutional partnerships are being encouraged to conduct joint research projects, share resources, and build research networks.
**2. Strengthen Academic Quality Assurance**
To ensure mutual recognition of degrees and alignment of quality benchmarks across member states, the Asean University Network (AUN)-QA framework is being expanded and institutionalised. Furthermore, peer learning networks within AUN are being utilised to promote cross-border faculty evaluations, programme reviews, and shared curriculum development.
**3. Promote Mobility and Exchange**
A regional academic exchange initiative similar to the EU’s Erasmus program is being suggested for student and faculty mobility. This would enable students to study at top regional institutions in exchange for service commitments in their home countries. Faculty collaborations are also being encouraged through sabbaticals, joint appointments, and research fellowships to deepen inter-institutional relationships.
**4. Emphasize Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)**
Engaging universities in initiatives that align with the SDGs is fostering a culture of sustainability and social responsibility. Innovative projects, such as electric transportation services and green spaces, are being implemented to enhance sustainability and community engagement.
**5. Build Institutional Resilience**
Capacity-building initiatives are being undertaken to enhance internal systems and prepare institutions for regional integration and quality assurance standards. A strong sense of community among ASEAN universities is being promoted by organising regular networking events and collaborative projects.
The ASEAN Research Council would provide grants for collaborative, multi-country research on shared challenges. Governments are also being encouraged to involve industry actors in curriculum co-development and co-funding laboratory infrastructure.
By focusing on these strategies, ASEAN universities aim to enhance their academic quality, research collaboration, and institutional resilience while moving beyond a sole focus on global rankings. The authors emphasise the need for long-term, collaborative solutions to avoid the trap where metrics override mission.
The overemphasis on global citation counts can distort research agendas, diverting attention from urgent local and regional issues like climate adaptation, public health, or social inclusion. Similar "world-class university" drives were launched in Indonesia to boost local universities into global rankings, with universities like Universiti Malaya (UM) in Malaysia surging to 58th position, overtaking institutions like City University of Hong Kong (63) and some UK Russell Group universities such as Sheffield.
Malaysia leads South-east Asia in the QS World University Rankings 2026, with 10 universities in the Top 500. Indonesia and Thailand follow Malaysia with 5 and 2 universities in the Top 500, respectively. The National University of Singapore remains Asean's highest-ranked institution, at 8th globally.
Investing in shared research platforms, harmonised quality assurance, and intra-regional mobility could turn current momentum into lasting strength. Public-private-university linkages would help ensure education and research remain aligned with ASEAN's evolving economic landscape.
- To further the focus on regional sustainability, the ASEAN universities are considering joint projects that address the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as implementing electric transportation systems and establishing green spaces.
- Recognizing the importance of a strong infrastructure, governments are being encouraged to collaborate with universities and industries to co-develop curricula and co-fund laboratory infrastructure.
- To foster a more global perspective, ASEAN universities are exploring the possibility of a regional academic exchange program similar to the EU’s Erasmus program, allowing for student and faculty mobility between top institutions.
- Moving beyond a singular emphasis on global university rankings, ASEAN universities are seeking to strengthen cultural ties by promoting inter-institutional partnerships for research, education, and self-development.
- In an effort to address regional issues like climate change and public health, a regional research grant fund, similar to the EU's Horizon Europe programme, is being proposed to support collaborative research across ASEAN countries.
- To ensure educational growth mirrors the evolving needs of the international finance and economic landscapes within ASEAN, the government is being encouraged to facilitate partnerships between universities, industries, and foreign institutions in areas of education-and-self-development and general-news.
