MANILA, Philippines – Twelve schools from 5 ASEAN countries made it to the top 100 of the 2015 QS University Rankings for Asia.

Among ASEAN countries, only Singapore made it to the top 10, with National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Nanyang Technological University in top 1 and top 4, respectively.

NUS ranked first for the second year in a row, besting 300 other universities all over Asia.

Malaysia has the most schools in the top 100, while Thailand has 3 schools, Singapore has 2, and Indonesia and Philippines have one school each.

A total of 47 schools from 7 ASEAN countries made it to the top 300 of the annual rankings: 

BRUNEI 

118. Universiti Brunei Darussalam

VIETNAM

191-200. Vietnam National University

SINGAPORE

1. National University of Singapore
4. Nanyang Technological University

PHILIPPINES 

70. University of the Philippines
114. Ateneo de Manila University
143. University of Santo Tomas
181-190. De La Salle University

INDONESIA 

79. University of Indonesia
122. Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB)
137. Universitas Gadjah Mada
147. Airlangga University
161-170. Padjadjaran University
201-250. Bogor Agricultural University
251-300. Diponegoro University

THAILAND

44. Mahidol University
53. Chulalongkorn University
99. Chiang Mai University
143. Thammasat University
171-180. Kasetsart University
171-180. Khon Kaen University
171-180. King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi
191-200. Prince of Songkla University
251-300. Burapha University
251-300. Naresuan University
251-300. Srinakharinwirot University

MALAYSIA

29. Universiti Malaya
49. Universiti Sains Malaysia
56. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
61. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
66. Universiti Putra Malaysia
151-160. International Islamic University Malaysia
151-160. Universiti Teknologi Petronas
191-200. Universiti Utara Malaysia
201-250. Multimedia University
201-250. Taylor’s University
201-250. Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
201-250. Universiti Teknologi MARA
201-250. Universiti Malaysia Perlis
201-250. University of Malaysia Sabah
251-300. Limkokwing University of Creative Technology
251-300. UCSI University
251-300. Universiti Malaysia Pahang
251-300. Universiti Malaysia Terengganu
251-300. Universiti Tenaga Nasional
251-300. Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia
251-300. Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman

The QS University Rankings for Asia, first published in 2009, includes the top 300 universities in Asia based on a methodology designed to reflect regional challenges and priorities.

Education is one of the key issues in the ASEAN regional integration, under the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community pillar. 

By the end of 2015, the ASEAN Economic Community will be established, marking the start of free trade among the organization’s 10 member-states allowing free flow of goods and services – education services included.

Analysts said that ahead of the integration, ASEAN member-states are expected to invest heavily on its people’s education, with countries encouraging education exchanges and the inclusion of ASEAN studies in the curricula. – Rappler.com