TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s higher education sector recorded a net 20% decline in the latest Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings by Subject released on Wednesday.
Taiwan's overall performance fell compared to last year, with more subjects dropping in rank than improving, per CNA. This placed Taiwan 11th globally in terms of the scale of decline.
Taiwan had 299 ranked entries across 30 universities, including 257 narrow subjects and 42 broad subject areas. Of these, 58 rose, 119 fell, and 88 remained unchanged.
In Asia, several regional peers recorded steeper declines than Taiwan. South Korea dropped 38%, followed by Hong Kong at 29% and China at 21%.
Despite the overall downturn, some institutions posted strong results. National Taiwan University led the field with 39 subjects ranked in the global top 100.
In classics and ancient history, NTU climbed to 6th worldwide from 19th last year. It was the only subject from a Taiwanese university to enter the global top 10.
Among narrow subjects, the biggest improvement came from National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism. Its hospitality and leisure management program rose 22 places to 23rd.
In broad subject areas, engineering and technology showed the strongest gains overall. National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and National Taiwan University of Science and Technology rose by 80 and 68 places, respectively.
Across the five broad subject categories, NTU remained Taiwan’s top performer in each. All five areas ranked within the global top 100.
Detailed QS data showed NTU ranked 60th in natural sciences, 63rd in engineering and technology, and 63rd in arts and humanities. It also placed 67th in social sciences and management and 83rd in life sciences and medicine.
QS Senior Vice President Ben Sowter said Taiwan’s top institutions continue to perform strongly despite the overall decline. He highlighted NTU as the standout performer.
Sowter said the results reflect structural pressures, including declining enrolment due to demographic changes. He added that government efforts are focused on boosting research capacity and global competitiveness, particularly in artificial intelligence and advanced technologies.
He said policy direction is shaping funding priorities across education and industry. Taiwan’s universities are therefore expected to strengthen their global visibility in key science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
This is the 16th edition of the QS subject rankings. The latest survey assessed about 1,900 institutions from 100 countries, including 30 from Taiwan, such as Academia Sinica.
