NUS, NTU top global rankings in specific subject areas

The country's two oldest universities have topped the latest global rankings in specific subject areas.

Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has overtaken Massachusetts Institute of Technology to become the world's leading institution for the study of materials science, according to a league table compiled by Britain-based Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), a higher education analysis firm.

"Materials science is the heart of all technological innovation and this will only become more important with the world focus on sustainability and the ageing population," Professor Lam Yeng Ming, NTU's chair of its School of Materials Science and Engineering, told The Straits Times. "This year's ranking is a confirmation that with Singapore's foresight to invest strongly in research in materials science coupled with very driven faculty and researchers, we can be the world leader in an impactful area."

QS also placed the National University of Singapore (NUS) petroleum engineering programme at number one, a position it also attained last year out of 151 contenders.

Last year, NTU's materials science programme was ranked third out of about 400 programmes worldwide.

Overall, NUS ranked 11th out of 1,000 universities, while NTU came in 13th. Last year, both universities tied for 11th place.

Singapore

App managing student devices in 127 schools hacked

Apr 20, 2024

Related Stories

MOE to rotate HODs who have been in same school for 8 years

Northbrooks school camp cut short because of stomach flu

Higher salaries for Sped teachers

"The consistent improvements made by Singaporean institutions in our rankings are the result of a decade of investment and strategising," said Mr Ben Sowter, QS' senior vice-president of professional services.

"It was in 2010, after all, that the Singaporean Government inaugurated the Singapore Universities Fund, with a view to avoiding the sort of downturn-driven real-terms funding cuts that have beleaguered universities across the world."

The QS analysis also found Singapore to be the fourth best higher education system in the world after the United States, Britain and Switzerland, and first in Asia based on its share of programmes in the top 10 globally.

NUS senior deputy president and provost Ho Teck Hua said: "The university has top-10 placement for 16 of our programmes, up from four last year.

"Overall, NUS is placed in the top 20 for 28 out of the 37 programmes in which it was ranked. It is a wonderful achievement by our talented faculty members."