Nguyen Tat Thanh University makes its inaugural appearance in the THE Asia University Rankings 2026
NTTU – Times Higher Education (THE) has officially released the Asia University Rankings for the 2026 cycle – THE Asia Rankings 2026, featuring over 900 universities across the continent. Nguyen Tat Thanh University has proudly made its first-ever appearance in this prestigious ranking.
The THE Asia Rankings 2026 continues to employ a comprehensive evaluation framework comprising five pillars:
- Research Quality (30%): Focusing on citation impact, research strength, research excellence, and research influence.
- Research Environment (28%): Assessing research reputation, research income, and research productivity.
- Teaching (the learning environment) (24.5%): Evaluating the learning environment through teaching reputation, student-to-staff ratio, doctorate-awarding ratio, and institutional income.
- Industry (10%): Measured by industry income and the number of patents citing the university’s research.
- International Outlook (7.5%): Evaluating the proportion of international staff, international students, and international research collaboration.
Based on these criteria, the THE Asia Rankings 2026 evaluated 929 institutions across 36 countries and territories, an increase of 76 universities compared to the 2025 cycle. The growth in both the number of participating educational institutions and the geographical scope reflects the expanding scale and escalating competitiveness of the ranking. Furthermore, it demonstrates the robust integration trend of Asian higher education within the context of globalization.
In Vietnam, 11 higher education institutions were ranked, marking an increase of two institutions compared to 2025. Notably, in its debut in the ranking, Nguyen Tat Thanh University secured an outstanding 5th position nationwide and was placed in the 501-600 band in the Asian region.
Despite being ranked for the first time, Nguyen Tat Thanh University excellently secured a position in the 501-600 band of universities across Asia
Sharing his thoughts on this achievement, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Kim Hong, President of Nguyen Tat Thanh University, expressed the immense joy and pride of the University’s faculty and student body. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Kim Hong noted that this year’s ranking introduces several significant innovations, providing a more comprehensive and objective reflection of the standing of higher education institutions globally in general, and in Asia in particular. Specifically, the academic reputation survey data was compiled from over 108,000 responses from global scholars, ensuring high representativeness and reliability. Additionally, the scope of patent data was expanded, gathering information from more than 100 intellectual property offices worldwide, rather than focusing solely on a few major regions as in previous years.
Particularly, the standardization of international metrics based on population size has contributed to a more equitable evaluation process, allowing countries with smaller populations the opportunity to objectively demonstrate their capabilities and achievements. According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Kim Hong, these improvements not only elevate the quality of the ranking but also serve as a driving force for universities, including Nguyen Tat Thanh University, to continue investing sustainably in research, innovation, and international integration in the coming time.
According to the THE Asia Rankings 2026, several indicators of Nguyen Tat Thanh University were highly appraised with outstanding scores, namely:
- Research Quality: 62.0
- International Outlook: 45.2
- Industry: 21.5
- Teaching: 14.4
- Research Environment: 11.9
The inclusion of Nguyen Tat Thanh University in the THE Asia University Rankings for the 2026 cycle not only affirms its academic prestige but also unlocks numerous new opportunities for international cooperation. This achievement enables the University to enhance its capacity to attract global faculty, scientists, and students while establishing a solid foundation for developing globally standardized academic programs.
Previously, Nguyen Tat Thanh University also made its inaugural appearance in the THE World University Rankings 2026 (THE WUR) cycle, securing a position in the 1001-1200 band globally. Furthermore, three of its academic disciplines—Medical and Health (Clinical and Health), Life Sciences, and Engineering—received high recognition from THE WUR, both globally and within Vietnam.
The University clearly identifies innovation as a pivotal factor in adapting to the escalating demands of society and modern educational trends. Participating in ranking activities and quality accreditation according to domestic and international standards serves not only as an objective benchmark but also as a catalyst propelling Nguyen Tat Thanh University towards comprehensive advancement. From elevating the quality of human resource training, promoting scientific research, and facilitating technology transfer, to enhancing community service, the University aims to robustly disseminate the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation. Simultaneously, this acts as the cornerstone for the University to pursue profound integration, swiftly aligning with the dynamic development trends of global higher education.
Msc. Tu Anh
