KUALA LUMPUR: Universiti Sains Malay-sia’s (USM) Apex university status is not in jeopardy despite dropping a spot in the Times Higher Education (THE) – QS World University Rankings 2009. Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the full effect of the Apex university could only be seen and evaluated in the future.
He added it was also too soon to have another Apex university.
USM fell to 314 from 313 last year.
Mohamed Khaled also downplayed the significance of USM’s slip in the rankings as questioned by several parties.
“We should not relate Apex too much with the THE-QS rankings,” Mohamed Khaled told The Star after attending the International Exposition of Research and Invention of Institutions of Higher Learning 2009 (Pecipta) awards ceremony at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
“Apex isn’t meant solely for ranking purposes and we expect it to show results after 2010,” he said.
Mohamed Khaled added although the ministry was pleased that Universiti Malaya (UM) had improved 50 spots from last year to finish at 180, it was too soon to have another Apex university.
At the Pecipta awards ceremony, UM won the Premier Research Trophy after the varsity won four gold medals, 14 silver and 10 bronze.
UM was tied with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia - the other university which improved in the rankings - on four gold medals apiece; but won based on a silver medal count back.
This year’s Pecipta saw 465 entries and attracted more than 5,000 visitors.
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