Finishing the year strong in rankings for research, teaching, and real impact
With 2025 drawing to a close, SMU has managed to achieve a series of distinctions, reinforcing its standing as a leading institution in Asia and globally.
Besides achieving strong regional and global rankings, SMU has continued to gain international recognition for its high-impact research and innovative pedagogy, capping off a strong year that reflects the University’s sustained progress and growing reputation across multiple fronts.
Advancing in regional and global rankings
In the QS Asia University Rankings 2026, SMU recorded its strongest-ever showing, rising 18 places to rank 122 among 1,526 institutions. This places SMU within the top 8 per cent of universities in Asia, despite intensified competition driven by more than 550 new entrants to the league table.
SMU also continued its upward trajectory in the QS World University Rankings 2026, climbing to number 511 globally, a notable improvement from 585 the year before.
Three indicators underpinned this progress, each of which posted gains simultaneously for the first time in five years:
- Employer Reputation: up 24 places, bolstered by a 20.5-point increase.
- Academic Reputation: up 14 places, with a 17.6-point rise.
- International Faculty: maintained a perfect score of 100.
These results underscore growing confidence among employers, academic peers, and international collaborators in SMU’s contributions to education, research, and global engagement.
SMU Provost Professor Alan Chan commented: “We are very encouraged by SMU’s improved performance in the QS Asia University Rankings 2026, particularly in Academic and Employer Reputation — areas that reflect how our peers and industry partners perceive the quality and relevance of our education and research.
This outcome reaffirms the University’s continued progress in enhancing our academic impact, international visibility, and graduate outcomes. We will build on this momentum as we strengthen our partnerships, research collaborations, and reputation across Asia and beyond.”
SMU Provost Prof Alan Chan
Demonstrating impactful research
SMU’s research achievements were equally noteworthy, with SMU Lee Kong Chian School of Business (LKCSB) securing a strong position in the Financial Times (FT) Research Insights Ranking 2025, placing 23rd globally and third in Asia, as well as sixth worldwide for teaching cases.
The ranking evaluates business schools for the influence, relevance, and visibility of their research, and the achievement reflects SMU’s commitment to research that informs industry practice and public policy.
LKCSB Dean Professor Bert De Reyck observed that the recognition highlights SMU’s ongoing focus on research with meaningful societal impact, noting the importance of both scholarly and teaching contributions.
Our vision at SMU has always been to generate research insights based on rigorous research but with a firm eye on creating meaningful impact on industry, policy makers and society. So, it is great to see that our School has been included in the top 50 business schools for research insights and impact.”
Dean, SMU Lee Kong Chian School of Business Prof Bert De Reyck
Prof De Reyck said, “As a University, our biggest impact is made through the many students that we educate and transform, so I am especially pleased to see that our teaching-case writing efforts have also been recognised.”
FT ranked SMU sixth globally for its case impact, making it the top institution in Asia in this category. Impressively, SMU stands alongside some of the world’s most recognised case-writing institutions, including Harvard Business School (1st) and Western University Ivey (2nd).
Two SMU cases received specific mention from the FT for their reach: one on the contrasting models of Amazon and Walmart, and another on DBS Bank’s integration of artificial intelligence.
The University also placed 18th in the Case Centre Impact Index 2025, making it the only Singaporean institution to appear in the global top 20 since the index’s inception. From 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2025, 78 teaching cases by SMU were distributed across The Case Centre’s network to 68 organisations in 23 countries.
Recognition for industry partnerships and experiential learning
Rounding off the year’s achievements, SMU’s longstanding commitment to applied learning was recognised at EDUtech Asia 2025, where the University received the Outstanding Industry–Academia Collaboration Award (Higher Education) for its flagship experiential learning model SMU-X.
Since its launch in 2015, SMU-X has grown into a cornerstone of the University’s educational approach, enabling students, faculty and partners to work collaboratively on real-world challenges. Ten years on, the initiative has expanded from that modest pilot to more than 46,000 enrolments, 180 courses, 7,100 projects, and 1,200 partners.
This year, some 5,000 students took part in 90 SMU-X modules, working with organisations across Singapore and overseas.
Associate Professor Yuanto Kusnadi, Academic Director of SMU-X, described the award as recognition of shared effort across the SMU community and its partners, highlighting the programme’s role as a dynamic platform for applied learning and innovation.
Earlier in the year, SMU-X also earned the Teaching & Learning Strategy of the Year accolade at the Times Higher Education Awards Asia 2025, adding to its growing reputation as a model for experiential education.
A milestone year and a launchpad for the future
SMU’s achievements in rankings, research impact, and educational innovation over this year are especially meaningful as the University celebrates its 25th anniversary.
These achievements reflect a legacy defined by progress and shared accomplishment. As the University enters 2026, these milestones stand not only as recognition of its efforts but also as a springboard for continued advancement.
With its strengthened academic reputation, globally recognised research, and sustained commitment to real-world learning, SMU closes the year poised to deepen its impact and shape the next chapter of its growth with confidence and purpose.
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