WHILE substantial investment may be needed to get into and stay at the Top 200 tier of the Times Higher Education (THE) -- QS World University Rankings, Malaysia is still on track for such aspirations with the Accelerated Programme for Excellence (Apex) for universities.

British Council Education and Training Director Peter Clack said this recently in Kuala Lumpur.

"Universities and higher learning institutions need to invest a lot more to be there and stay there. It is now harder to forge ahead into the Top 200 but Malaysia's aspirations are on track with the foundation of the Apex universities and these things will bear fruit someday."

Although Malaysian public universities have improved their rankings with the exception of Universiti Sains Malaysia, none was listed in the Top 200 tier. Competition from universities of other countries was a factor.

"This year, universities from 33 countries are represented in the Top 200 but it was only 28 last year. It is a long-term investment of the future to be an international university and universities in the UK can't celebrate either as it is a constant process."
While high rankings for local universities are not going to happen overnight, Clack says: "Members of the committee for the Apex universities have demonstrated foresight and strategic thinking.

"They understand they have to be international universities working with partner universities in the UK, Canada and Australia where the link between finances, quality and resources do make a difference."

He adds: "Although it is not just about money, technology universities have managed to attract considerable funding from the private sector."

The THE -- QS World University Rankings 2008 reflects the increasing profile of technology-based universities.

Many of the world's top tertiary institutions in this area such as the California Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology improved their positions as demand by international employers for more technology-literate graduates has grown.

QS Managing Director and Top Universities Guide co-editor Nunzio Quacquarelli says: "Rankings are contentious and QS has always argued that they should be used with caution, understanding, that they cannot reflect all aspects of university excellence."