PENANG, 24 June 2026 – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has further strengthened its global leadership in sustainability, ranking among the top five universities in the world in the Times Higher Education (THE) Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026.

The announcement was made during the Global Sustainable Development Congress (GSDC) 2026 held in Jakarta, Indonesia.

This year, USM climbed nine places from 14th in 2025 to 5th globally, positioning itself among the top five institutions out of 1,603 universities assessed worldwide.

The achievement reaffirms USM’s standing as Malaysia’s leading university in sustainability impact, reflecting its unwavering commitment to advancing the sustainable development agenda through a holistic, institution‑wide approach.

Adding to this distinction, USM has retained its No. 1 global ranking for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 17: Partnerships for the Goals, underscoring its role as a world leader in fostering strategic collaborations that support the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This recognition highlights USM’s strength in building a comprehensive collaborative ecosystem that spans government agencies, industries, non‑governmental organisations (NGOs), communities, higher education institutions, and international organisations.

It also reflects the university’s dedication to sharing knowledge and best practices globally, ensuring transparent reporting on SDG progress, and embedding sustainability principles across education, research, and community engagement.

Beyond SDG 17, USM also achieved outstanding results in three other SDGs:

·       SDG 1: No Poverty

·       SDG 14: Life Below Water

·       SDG 15: Life on Land

USM Vice‑Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Seri Ir. Dr. Abdul Rahman Mohamed, attributed the success to the collective commitment of the university community in embedding sustainability into every facet of management, education, research, campus operations, and community engagement.

“This achievement reflects the strength of USM’s sustainability ecosystem, which is holistic and well‑coordinated. It not only acknowledges our performance on the global stage but also demonstrates that a Malaysian university can lead the global sustainability agenda through knowledge, innovation, strategic partnerships, and impactful solutions for society,” he said.

He further emphasised that the recognition aligns with USM’s aspiration to reinforce its role as a transformative institution in higher education, driving change towards a sustainable future.

The THE Sustainability Impact Ratings is an international benchmarking exercise that evaluates universities’ contributions to the 17 SDGs across governance, education, research, operations, and community engagement.

This milestone affirms USM’s position not only as a premier higher education institution, but also as a global model in advancing sustainable development through strategic partnerships, innovation, and knowledge‑driven solutions that deliver meaningful impact to society while supporting the United Nations 2030 Agenda.