According to the QS World University Rankings: Asia 2027, released by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) on November 3, 2026, Ho Chi Minh City Open University (HCMCOU) recorded improvements in 7 out of 11 performance indicators compared to the previous ranking cycle. The three most significant improvements were in Citations per Paper (up 26.4 points), Employer Reputation (up 5.7 points), and Academic Reputation (up 3.4 points).
Rising 62 Places in Asia and 4 Places in Southeast Asia
According to the newly released results, Ho Chi Minh City Open University ranked 667th in Asia, rising 62 places from its previous position of 729th in the 2026 rankings. In Southeast Asia, the University also improved its standing from 126th to 122nd, moving up four places. Among the 33 Vietnamese higher education institutions included in this year’s rankings, HCMCOU secured 15th place nationwide.
The QS Asia University Rankings 2027 featured the highest number of Vietnamese higher education institutions to date, reflecting the growing emphasis placed by universities on quality assurance, institutional evaluation, and international integration. Against this increasingly competitive landscape, HCMCOU’s continued rise in the rankings represents an encouraging achievement, reflecting its ongoing efforts to enhance educational quality, advance scientific research, and expand international cooperation.
Significant Improvements in Scientific Research Performance
The QS Asia University Rankings is a prestigious ranking system that evaluates higher education institutions based on 11 performance indicators. Academic Reputation accounts for 30% of the overall score, while Employer Reputation carries a weight of 20%. The remaining indicators, each weighted between 2.5% and 10%, include Faculty Student Ratio, Staff with PhD, Papers per Faculty, Citations per Paper, International Research Network, International Faculty Ratio, International Student Ratio, and Inbound and Outbound Exchange Student Ratios.
In the 2027 rankings, HCMCOU’s Citations per Paper score increased significantly from 47.0 points in 2026 to 73.4 points, representing a gain of 26.4 points. This was the largest improvement among the University’s 11 performance indicators and also its highest-scoring indicator in the current ranking cycle.
Citations per Paper measures the research impact of academic publications through scholarly citations, using data from the Scopus database. The substantial increase in this indicator is a positive sign of the growing recognition and influence of HCMCOU’s research contributions within the academic community.
In addition, improvements in Papers per Faculty, Academic Reputation, and Citations per Paper indicate positive developments in the University’s research capacity, publication productivity, and academic standing. Together, these results highlight HCMCOU’s continued efforts to strengthen its research performance and progressively enhance its reputation within the academic community.
Growing Employer Reputation and International Research Collaboration
Beyond scientific research, the QS Asia University Rankings 2027 also recorded an improvement in HCMCOU’s Employer Reputation indicator. Specifically, the University’s Employer Reputation score increased from 23.8 to 29.5 points, a gain of 5.7 points compared to the previous ranking cycle.
Employer Reputation accounts for 20% of the overall QS Asia ranking score and is determined through surveys of employers regarding higher education institutions that produce high-quality graduates. The improvement in this indicator suggests increasingly positive recognition of HCMCOU among employers, further strengthening the University’s educational reputation and its position in relation to the labor market.
In international academic collaboration, HCMCOU’s International Research Network score reached 57.5 points, an increase of 2.9 points from 2026. Meanwhile, the International Student Ratio indicator also improved from 1.8 to 2.7 points. These results reflect positive developments in expanding international research partnerships, strengthening academic connections, and promoting the internationalization of the University’s educational environment.
Continuing to Enhance Educational Quality and Strengthen Its Position in Higher Education
Guided by its educational philosophy of “Humanity – Openness – Practicality – Integration”, Ho Chi Minh City Open University remains committed to improving educational quality, advancing scientific research, strengthening international cooperation, and aligning educational activities with the practical needs of society.
As part of its development strategy, the University continues to promote curriculum innovation, enhance faculty qualifications, foster a supportive research environment, and expand partnerships with businesses and international educational institutions. At the same time, strengthening academic exchange programs, attracting international faculty and students, and promoting high-quality scientific publications remain key priorities in enhancing the University’s competitiveness and international integration.
This achievement provides further motivation for Ho Chi Minh City Open University to continue improving educational quality, reinforcing its academic reputation, and progressively strengthening its position within the higher education landscape of Vietnam, Asia, and the wider international community.
OUNews