Inje University enters THE world university rankings first time, top 7% band
In short
Inje University said it placed in the 1201–1400 band of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, its first appearance in the list and the top 7% of about 22,000 universities worldwide. The university said it ranked joint 30th in South Korea and first among private universities in Busan and South Gyeongsang. It scored 69.7 points in the industry collaboration category, the second highest among seven South Korean universities in the same band.
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Inje University said it entered the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for the first time, placing in the 1201–1400 band in the THE World University Rankings 2027. The university said the band corresponds to the top 7% of roughly 22,000 universities worldwide, and that it ranked joint 30th in South Korea and first among private universities in Busan and South Gyeongsang. [ 2 , 3 ]
In the wider Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang region, Newsis and Seoul Economic Daily both reported Inje placed fifth, behind UNIST, Ulsan University, Busan National University and Pukyong National University; within Busan and South Gyeongsang, only Busan National University and Pukyong National University ranked higher than Inje. A Seoul Shinmun headline described the result as first place among private universities in the Busan–Ulsan–South Gyeongsang region, a description the ranking lists reported by the other two outlets do not match. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
According to the two outlets that carried the university's detail, THE assesses universities on 17 indicators across five areas: teaching environment, research environment, research quality, industry collaboration and internationalisation. This year's evaluation covered 2,297 qualifying universities from 118 countries out of about 22,000 universities in 196 countries, and 45 South Korean universities were ranked. Inje said it first submitted evaluation data late last year. [ 2 , 3 ]
Inje received 69.7 points in the industry collaboration category, the second highest among seven South Korean universities in the same ranking band. The university attributed the score to patent filings and registrations, technology commercialisation and company-linked on-site education. Its on-site campus programme, run under the specialised regional university scheme, involves about 120 companies; Inje said technology transfers rose from 25 cases in 2024 to 51 last year. In research quality it scored 42.5 points, higher than Kangwon National University (39.3), Seoul National University of Science and Technology (38.2) and the University of Seoul (36.8) in the same band, which the university linked to expanded international joint research and more citations. [ 3 ]
President Jun Min-hyun said the first attempt had put the university's name on the world stage, calling it the result of faculty and researchers widening international research networks and connecting research outcomes to industry and society. He said the university would further strengthen its global research competitiveness and industry collaboration capacity. [ 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The result is a regional university in Gimhae presenting itself as internationally competitive, which local outlets read as evidence that industry-linked teaching and research can lift a smaller institution into global tables. It also feeds an ongoing debate in South Korea over the standing of regional universities relative to those in the Seoul area, though the documents offer no national policy consequence.
Key facts
- Inje University said it entered the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for the first time, in the 1201–1400 band. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The university said the band places it in the top 7% of roughly 22,000 universities worldwide. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Inje said it ranked joint 30th in South Korea and first among private universities in Busan and South Gyeongsang. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Inje said it placed fifth in the wider Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang region, behind UNIST, Ulsan University, Busan National University and Pukyong National University. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The university received 69.7 points in THE's industry collaboration category, second highest among seven South Korean universities in the same ranking band. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The 2027 evaluation covered 2,297 qualifying universities from 118 countries; 45 South Korean universities were ranked. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Inje said it first submitted evaluation data late last year. [ 3 ]
- Technology transfers rose from 25 cases in 2024 to 51 last year, the university said. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Inje University appeared in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for the first time, in the 1201–1400 band. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The university was placed joint 30th nationally and first among private universities in Busan and South Gyeongsang. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Inje scored 69.7 points in the industry collaboration category, the second highest among seven South Korean universities in the same band. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The evaluation covered 2,297 universities from 118 countries and ranked 45 South Korean universities. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Inje is the top private university across the whole Busan–Ulsan–South Gyeongsang region. The Seoul Shinmun headline describes Inje as first among private universities in the Busan–Ulsan–South Gyeongsang region, while Newsis and Seoul Economic Daily both say Inje is first only among private universities in Busan and South Gyeongsang and fifth in the wider region behind UNIST, Ulsan University, Busan National University and Pukyong National University, without stating the ownership of the universities ranked above it.
- The exact score or rank of the university in categories other than industry collaboration and research quality. The documents give only the industry collaboration score of 69.7 and a research quality score of 42.5; no other category figures are reported.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Seoul Shinmun publishes a headline saying Inje University placed first among private universities in the Busan–Ulsan–South Gyeongsang region in its first attempt at the THE world rankings. [ 1 ]
- Newsis reports Inje entered the 1201–1400 band, joint 30th nationally and first among Busan–South Gyeongsang private universities, and fifth in the wider Busan–Ulsan–South Gyeongsang region. [ 2 ]
- Seoul Economic Daily reports the same ranking result and adds detail on Inje's industry collaboration score, technology transfers and research quality. [ 3 ]