Walailak University has achieved a significant milestone in the 2024 Times Higher Education World University Rankings (2024 THE WUR). In its 31-year history, the university has made a remarkable leap from the band of 1501+ in the 2023 rankings to the 1201-1500 band among 1,904 research-intensive universities worldwide.
At the national level, Walailak University has also seen substantial progress, moving from 11th place in the 2023 THE WUR to a joint 6th place among the 19 Thai universities ranked in the 2024 rankings.
Professor Dr. Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, President of Walailak University, expressed his satisfaction with this achievement, stating, "We are pleased to learn that Walailak University has achieved a higher ranking in this year’s Times Higher Education World University Rankings, positioned at 1201-1500 globally or at the joint sixth in Thailand. We have been working very hard during the past years, and as a young university, her current higher stride to the 2024 THE WUR at 1201-1500 bears immense significance. It enhances the credibility of our institution. In addition to promoting quality research, we have also placed a strong emphasis on providing quality teaching and learning and have implemented the United Kingdom Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF) in all our teaching programs. And we will continue to improve and progress."
According to Times Higher Education, a total of 2,673 universities from 127 countries applied for the 2024 THE WUR, and 1,904 were ranked. For the 2023 THE WUR, 2,345 universities from 104 countries submitted their data, and 1,799 were ranked.
Walailak University's outstanding performance in Research Quality is particularly noteworthy, with a substantial increase from the previous year's percentile of 14.5 to 35.5. Research quality encompasses factors such as citation impact, research strength, research excellence, and research influence.
Associate Professor Dr. Surin Maisrikrod, Vice President for Global Engagement at Walailak University, expressed encouragement at the improved ranking, considering that this is only the second time the university has participated in the ranking since its establishment in 1992.
Dr. Surin added that these world university rankings are a reflection of Walailak University's ambitions to gain international recognition for excellence in key areas, including research, teaching and learning, and social engagement.
In addition to its success in the 2024 THE WUR, Walailak University achieved a global ranking of 501+ in the 2023 THE Young University Rankings and secured a joint third place among Thai THE Young Universities.
Furthermore, in terms of contributions to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, the 2023 THE Impact Rankings awarded Walailak University a global rank of 401-600. The university's notable performances in the top 100 worldwide for THE impact rankings included SDG2 Zero Hunger (56th place), SDG6 Clean Water and Sanitation (52nd place), SDG11 Sustainable Cities and Communities (99th place), and SDG14 Life Below Water (58th place).
These achievements collectively signify Walailak University's dedication to excellence, research impact, and its commitment to addressing global challenges through education and research. Congratulations to the university on this significant recognition on the global stage.
