Thursday 18 / June / 2026
Muscat— Sultan Qaboos University has advanced 28 places in the QS World University Rankings 2027, rising to 306th globally from 334th in the 2026 rankings, marking a significant milestone in its efforts to strengthen academic excellence and international research standing.
His Highness Sayyid Dr Fahad bin al Julanda al Said, Vice-Chancellor of Sultan Qaboos University, said the achievement reflects the dedication of the institution’s faculty, researchers, and staff in advancing education, scientific research, and strategic partnerships. He noted that the progress underscores the university’s growing prominence among leading global institutions.
He attributed the achievement to the continued support provided to the higher education sector under the leadership of Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and said it aligns with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 to enhance the Sultanate’s global competitiveness in knowledge, innovation, and higher education.
The QS World University Rankings 2027 evaluated 8,808 universities across 106 countries, with 1,504 institutions making the final rankings. The latest edition also included 94 newly ranked universities.
QS assesses universities using nine key indicators, including academic reputation, employer reputation, research citations, faculty-to-student ratio, international faculty and student representation, international research collaboration, employment outcomes, and sustainability.
Sultan Qaboos University recorded notable gains in several areas, particularly employer reputation, research citations, international research networks, and graduate employment outcomes.
To strengthen its employer reputation score, the university expanded cooperation with public and private sector employers, aligned academic outputs with labor market needs, organized career fairs and professional events, and held workshops highlighting the importance of employer engagement. It also launched the Sultan Qaboos University Employers Forum, which generated recommendations aimed at enhancing the institution’s professional standing and improving communication with employers.
The university further improved its employment outcomes indicator through enhanced graduate data quality and coordination with the Royal Oman Police National Records Center. Support from the Ministry of Economy also contributed to strategic initiatives designed to improve the university’s position in international rankings.
In research, the university introduced programs to encourage scientific publishing and participation in international conferences, helping increase research quality, citation impact, and global collaboration.
With its latest rise in the rankings, Sultan Qaboos University moves closer to its strategic objective of joining the world’s top 300 universities, reinforcing its role in advancing Oman’s higher education and research ambitions under Oman Vision 2040.
