Sungkyunkwan University jumps 18 spots to 108th in QS World University Rankings

Sungkyunkwan University’s campus in Seoul / Courtesy of Sungkyunkwan University

Sungkyunkwan University ranked 108th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, rising 18 places from 126th last year and reaffirming its global competitiveness as a leading institution.

The university said Friday that the rise was driven mainly by enhanced research performance. Research-related indicators, including citations per faculty and research impact, showed significant gains, reflecting the university’s sustained research achievements accumulated over many years.

The institution regards the accomplishment as one of the key outcomes of its Vision 2030 initiative. In September 2021, it announced the initiative with the goal of becoming a global leader in creating value for future society through creative challenges and innovation.

At the time, the university set four strategic goals: innovating university education, becoming a leading research-centered university, building mutually beneficial partnerships and enhancing the university brand.

The university said the rise in the global rankings represents a tangible result of its continued efforts to achieve the goal of becoming a leading research-centered university.

It added that long-term investments in research funding, research infrastructure and the recruitment of outstanding scholars have translated into measurable achievements reflected in this year's evaluation.

“This achievement was not created overnight, but is the result of the consistent efforts of all members of the university community, including faculty, researchers, staff and students,” said Yoo Pil-jin, the university’s vice president for planning and coordination.

He added, “As we continue pursuing the goals set forth in Vision 2030, we will further strengthen our research capabilities while enhancing our reputation so that our research achievements can gain broader recognition across academia and industry, both at home and abroad.”

He also expressed confidence that the university’s reputation-related indicators will continue to improve in the years ahead, as these university-wide efforts are already yielding tangible results.