{
  "id": 1363863,
  "title": "Commentary: Are perceptions of university prestige changing as Asian institutions rise up the ranks?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/commentary-are-perceptions-of-university-prestige-changing-as-asian",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-16T22:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CNA - Singapore",
    "slug": "cna-singapore",
    "url": "https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/qs-university-ranking-asia-china-study-abroad-6309371"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "University rankings have shifted as Asian institutions climb the global ladder, but this does not automatically alter people's perceptions of what constitutes a \"good\" university, according to June Yong. The latest QS World University Rankings 2027 reveals that Asian universities, particularly those in China, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Singapore, are rising in the global standings.\n\nFor older generations, names such as Oxford, Cambridge, and Ivy League schools still hold significant symbolic weight despite the ranking changes. Meanwhile, younger students are entering a different higher education landscape, with top Asian universities offering academic programs, industry connections, and access to burgeoning regional economies.\n\nInstitutions in China, Hong Kong, and South Korea have gained global recognition, while the number of international students in Hong Kong, Malaysia, and South Korea has increased. At the same time, the United States and United Kingdom have seen declines in international student intakes and graduate work visas.\n\nRankings may signal global shifts in educational quality, but they do not erase long-held beliefs about what constitutes a \"good\" university. For Evelyn Tan, a mother of two, rankings played a significant role in her daughter's university selection process. Her daughter focused exclusively on universities within the top 50 of the QS rankings, which are largely Western institutions. However, Tan acknowledges the convenience of using rankings to narrow down choices amid an overwhelming number of options.\n\nWhile rankings can provide reassurance about quality, they cannot determine whether a particular institution, course, or environment aligns with a young person's interests and aspirations. Factors such as curriculum enjoyment, campus culture, sense of belonging, and relationships with professors are not reflected in rankings.\n\nDeciding on a university involves a delicate balance between parental guidance and teen autonomy. Parents may prioritize prestige, stability, and future security, while students may be more concerned about personal development and life experiences. University choice can become a contentious issue in many families, with parents offering guidance and teens seeking autonomy.\n\nMs Tan and her husband encourage their children to explore different options and perspectives while providing guidance and advice. They emphasize the importance of allowing teenagers to think, question, and arrive at their own conclusions.",
  "summary": "University rankings are shifting, but they do not automatically rewrite long-held beliefs about what a “good” university looks like, says mum writer June Yong.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Commentary: Are perceptions of university prestige changing as Asian institutions rise up the ranks?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/commentary-are-perceptions-of-university-prestige-changing-as-asian-1364981",
        "published": "2026-08-16T22:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}