World Ranking of Universities in Muslim Countries — A Positive Trend for the Advancement of Knowledge

Lucknow, MINA – Some years back only seven Universities from the Islamic world were listed in the top 500 World Universities.

However, according to The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2018 (for 2016-2017), ninety six universities from Muslim countries have been listed amongst the top 1102 Universities of the world,

This is definitely a positive sign towards the need of higher learning in the Islamic World although universities of only 18 Muslim countries could find places in the list..

Hope other Muslim countries will find their names in future reports, Dr. M.I.H. Farooqi wrote for the Indian Muslims’ leading newspaper.Milli Gazette.

Of the 96 listed Universities, 22 belong to Turkey followed by Iran 18; Pakistan, 10; Malaysia and Egypt 9 each; Saudi Arabia, 5; U.A.E. and Indonesia 4 each; Jordan and Morocco 3 each; Tunisia 2 and Algeria, Bangladesh, Kuwait, Lebanon, Nigeria. Oman and Qatar 1 each.

A redeeming feature in the rankings is the fact that in forty one universities, female students are higher in numbers than male students.

Eleven Universities have more than 65:35 female : male ratio with Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University (22,257 students) of Saudi Arabia having the highest ratio of 81:19, followed by United Arab Emirates Univ.(7,492 students) 79:21,Qatar Univ.,(13,342 students) 73:27 and Kuwait Univ., (37,752 students) with the ratio of 72:28.

This is a great leap forward for the women emancipation in the Islamic Societies.

Inclusion of 96 Universities from Muslim Countries in the top 1102 World Universities is a clear sign that Muslims all over the world have started to understand that without modern knowledge and higher literacy Ummah cannot face the challenges of fast changing times.

No doubt economic strength of Oil Producing Muslim countries is main factor for the present trend of greater emphasis in academic pursuit. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)