27/07/2023
In the current context, participating in rankings is an essential strategic approach for universities in general. International Rankings are an excellent environment for universities to compare their quality, understand their strengths and weaknesses, and work together to improve their overall quality. Notable rankings include the Shanghai Rankings, QS Rankings, and THE Rankings, which focus on evaluating the research activities of universities worldwide.
Recognizing the importance of participating in rankings, in the article “The Participation of Universities in Southeast Asia in THE Impact Ranking,” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thi Thanh Thao – President of Thanh Do University wrote:
The Times Higher Education Impact Ranking (THE Impact Ranking) is a relatively new university ranking established in 2019 by THE. The ranking aims to evaluate the contributions of universities to society based on the sustainable development goals of the United Nations. By 2021, more than 1000 universities worldwide had participated in THE Impact Ranking. In this article, the author investigates the presence of universities in Southeast Asia, including countries such as Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Cambodia, in this ranking during the period 2019-2021. The results show that THE Impact Ranking has increasingly attracted the attention of universities in Southeast Asia. However, among the universities in the region that participated in this ranking, only a few achieved high rankings compared to the traditional THE World University Rankings. The article provides a preliminary overview of the results of the universities’ participation in THE Impact Ranking in Southeast Asia, and it offers recommendations for policy planners, universities, and THE Impact Ranking itself.
Regarding the participation of universities in the ASEAN region in the ranking, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thi Thanh Thao – President of Thanh Do University, remarked: “Universities from ASEAN countries have begun to participate in THE Impact Ranking since its first year and have made significant progress in the ranking. In the latest ranking, Southeast Asia has 72 universities participating, with two universities, Chulalongkorn University from Thailand and Universiti Sains Malaysia from Malaysia, ranked among the top 50 at positions 23 and 39, respectively. However, the remaining universities are ranked relatively low in the ranking. Besides Laos, East Timor, and Brunei, Singapore does not have any representatives in the ranking.”
Assoc. Prof. Phan Thi Thanh Thao also believes that for THE Impact Ranking to have even greater impact and not merely serve as a promotional tool, universities need to implement activities that promote sustainable development throughout their training programs. Universities should closely collaborate with the governments of their respective countries and social organizations, as well as international organizations, to develop sustainable development goals in accordance with the roadmap set by the governments of the ASEAN countries.
With the desire to highlight the strengths of private higher education, enhance the recognition of the higher education sector in the Asia-Pacific region, and provide an alternative choice to the major rankings that predominantly favor research-focused institutions (such as Shanghai Ranking, QS, Times Higher Education…), AppliedHE organization has designed the Private University Ranking: ASEAN. This ranking emphasizes the quality of teaching and learning, recruitment and research capabilities, as well as the level of engagement in community activities, internationalization, and reputation of private higher education institutions.
With the shared goal of promoting Vietnam’s education on the global stage, Thanh Do University continuously focuses on research, improving the quality of teaching, and enhancing infrastructure. The university strives to make its mark in the Private University Ranking: ASEAN by AppliedHE. In 2022, for the first time, the university appeared in the ranking, securing the 19th position out of 24 participating institutions. Along with Duy Tan University, Thanh Do University is one of the two representatives from Vietnam in this ranking. This year, the ranking includes institutions from a broader range of countries beyond just Southeast Asia but also the Asia-Pacific region. Furthermore, Thanh Do University also made its debut in the Webometrics Ranking. It holds the 149th position out of 184 universities in Vietnam and ranks 19857 globally.
Being listed in the ranking is a testament to the continuous improvement of Thanh Do University’s overall quality. However, the university will not stop there. Thanh Do University always aims to further develop, enhance its strengths, and address any shortcomings to become a reputable and high-quality educational environment, continually advancing in the rankings.
