UMS Breaks into THE WUR by Subject 2026 for Education

Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) has once again been ranked in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings (WUR) by Subject 2026 for the field of education. This ranking positions UMS’s education subject in the 601+ global band, with an overall score of 20.1–28.9.

The Coordinator for Global Reputation at the Directorate of Reputation, Collaboration, and International Affairs of UMS, Ayu Khoirotul Umaroh, S.K.M., M.K.M., deemed this achievement as international recognition of UMS quality and consistency in developing the field of education.

According to her, UMS position in the global rankings is the result of a long process of strengthening the tridharma of higher education and sustainable academic governance. This achievement reinforces UMS position as a university that consistently maintains educational quality and possesses global competitiveness.

“This is not an instant result. This achievement reflects UMS commitment to actively contributing to addressing global education issues,” Ayu said during an interview on Wednesday (28/1/2026).

Through an integrated academic approach that combines teaching, research, and community service, Ayu emphasized that UMS continues to strengthen its role as an educational institution that remains relevant to the changing times.

She revealed that the key factors contributing most significantly to UMS achievement in the field of education are the quality of teaching, the research productivity of education faculty members, and the impact on society.

“These three aspects serve as the main foundation supporting UMS academic reputation at the international level,” Ayu stated.

Among various global assessment indicators, she assessed that UMS primary strength lies in its strong teaching environment as well as contextual research with global impact.

“Education at UMS does not only emphasize mastery of theory, but also practice, innovation, and solutions to real educational challenges in society,” she explained.

She noted that the role of research and the quality of publications by lecturers have been highly significant in boosting UMS global reputation. The increase in internationally indexed publications, cross-country research collaborations, and the growth in citations indicate that academic ideas from UMS are increasingly gaining recognition within the global scholarly community.

In building UMS international positioning, the Directorate of Reputation, Collaboration, and International Affairs has implemented a cross-sectoral collaboration strategy. This approach enables synergy between UMS internal units and national as well as international partners to strengthen the institution’s visibility and impact on the global stage.

Ayu acknowledged that the biggest challenge for UMS in competing globally lies in contending with world-class universities that possess very large resources. However, UMS addresses this challenge by focusing on its niche strengths, namely value-oriented education, inclusivity, and social impact, which are increasingly appreciated in global rankings.

This achievement has also had a positive impact on the confidence of international partners. The global recognition enhances UMS trust and credibility, thereby opening wider opportunities for academic collaboration, joint research, and mobility programs for lecturers and students.

For education students at UMS, this accomplishment provides significant added value. Students gain learning experiences at a globally recognized institution, have access to international programs, and are situated in an academic environment that encourages world-class educational quality standards.

Ayu explained that UMS will prepare strategic steps by strengthening international collaborative research, curriculum internationalization, and increasing the academic visibility of both lecturers and the institution.

“This achievement is the result of the collective work of the UMS academic community and must be maintained through consistency in producing work, collaborating, and carrying out the tridharma on a sustainable basis,” she concluded.

Writer: Yusuf Ismail

Editor: Maysali Sudarwati

Translate: Farizal Luqman Majid