Where’s Pakistan in the rankings?

The Times Higher Education (THE) released the highly anticipated World University Rankings on October 9, 2024, after evaluating approximately 2,857 universities from 115 countries.

THE and QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) are widely regarded as leading global ranking platforms, with many institutions participating annually. The rankings typically assess three core aspects of university performance: research, teaching, and societal impact. Universities submit detailed profiles, including data on faculty-to-student ratios, gender distribution, and the percentage of international students. Some institutions also provide enhanced profiles to highlight unique strengths beyond the standard metrics. However, the data submitted is neither verified nor audited by THE or QS.

In the 2025 THE World University Rankings, the University of Oxford secured the top position for the ninth consecutive year, setting a new record by surpassing Harvard's eight-year reign that ended in 2011. Among the top ten institutions, Oxford distinguished itself through its strong international outlook, particularly in terms of its proportion of international students and collaborative research with global partners.

Trailing Oxford are several leading American universities, with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) securing second place globally, marking its highest-ever ranking. MIT overtook Stanford University, which fell from second to sixth – its lowest position since 2010. Harvard University climbed from fourth to third, while Princeton advanced from sixth to fourth. As in most years, all institutions in the top 10 are from either the US or the UK. The 11th spot was claimed by ETH Zurich in Switzerland, while Tsinghua University and Peking University in China secured 12th and 13th positions, respectively, due to their robust research capabilities and advanced laboratory infrastructure. The top 500 universities featured a strong presence from renowned institutions across the US, Canada, Europe, China, and the Far East, including Japan.

Only five Indian institutions made it into the top 500 of this year’s global rankings, with none of the prestigious IITs included – raising concerns about the credibility of the THE rankings. In contrast, twelve universities from the Gulf region secured spots in the top 500. Notable entries include King Fahd University of Science and Technology at 176th, Abu Dhabi University at 191st, and King Saud, Khalifa, and Qatar University in the 201-250 range. UAE University and Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University ranked between 251-300, followed by King Khalid and the University of Sharjah at 301-350.

King Abdulaziz and Zayed University placed within the 351-400 range, while Al Ain University rounded out the group at 401-500. The list includes six institutions from the UAE, five from Saudi Arabia, and one from Qatar.

Only three Turkish universities made it into the top 500: Koc University, Middle East Technical University, and Sabanci University, all ranked in the 351-400 range. Notably, several prominent institutions, such as Istanbul Technical University and Bilkent University, were absent from the top 500.

Pakistan, with 266 universities recognised by the Higher Education Commission (HEC), saw only 94 institutions participate or be listed in the rankings. Among them, only Quaid-i-Azam University secured a spot in the top 500, ranking in the 401-500 band. Eight universities were placed in the 601-800 range, including NUST, COMSATS Islamabad, Sukkur IBA, Air University, GCU Faisalabad, Capital University, UET Taxila, and the University of Malakand.

Another thirteen universities were ranked between 801 and 1000, including LUMS, Arid Agriculture, Islamia, Central Punjab. UET Peshawar, Gujrat, Abdul Wali Khan University, UVAS, IIU, Khawaja Fareed, Lahore, UMT and Punjab. The absence of IBA Karachi and Aga Khan University was particularly noticeable, again raising questions on the ranking. (Those ranked beyond 1000 are not included in this article). With a population of 250 million – around 3.5 per cent of the global population – Pakistan ranks as the fifth most populous country in the world. Proportionately, at least 17 Pakistani universities should be among the top 500, yet only one made the cut. It has been 22 years since the formation of the HEC to elevate university standards to a global level, but the results indicate that we have fallen significantly short.

When I was appointed chairman of the HEC in 2009, no Pakistani university was listed among the top 250 Asian universities in the QS World University Rankings, let alone the world rankings. Elevating the quality of higher education in Pakistan became my top priority during my four-year tenure, aiming to place our universities on the global map. Despite a 40 per cent budget cut from previous years, we partnered with the UK government and the British Council and signed an agreement with the Quality Assurance Agency (UK) to build institutional capacity.

We also secured support from the US government through USAID (thanks to the Kerry-Lugar Bill), the US Department of State, and the Fulbright programme, which became the largest in the world. All this assistance bore fruit. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of an exceptional team at the , including Dr Sohail Naqvi and Zia Batool, we gradually improved university standards. By 2013, ten Pakistani universities were ranked among the top 250 Asian institutions in the QS World University Rankings.

The 18th Amendment presents a significant opportunity for provinces to prioritise enhancing the quality of universities rather than simply increasing their numbers. By focusing on advanced technologies and skill development in areas like AI, cybersecurity, data science, metaverse and VR, cryptocurrency, gaming, and animation, Pakistan has the potential to accelerate economic growth and double its exports within three years.

Both federal and provincial governments must prioritise improving the quality of teaching, research, and innovation at universities. Establishing incubators and technology parks is essential, along with promoting entrepreneurship by ensuring affordable, reliable internet access and providing students with modern handheld devices. With proper care and effective administration, Pakistan's universities can make substantial contributions to the education and research sectors, driving the nation's economy and progress forward.

The writer is a former senator and former chairperson of the HEC.