Five Hong Kong universities were ranked in the top 100 of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings released on Thursday, making the city the only one globally to enjoy such high recognition.

All eight of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's government-subsidized universities have hit new heights in the ranking as well, with six being listed in the top 200 globally. The University of Hong Kong leads the pack by placing 33rd globally, climbing two places from last year’s ranking. The Chinese University of Hong Kong also enjoys a spot in the top 50, clinching 41st in the ranking.

Together with five Chinese mainland universities — Tsinghua University, Peking University, Fudan University, Zhejiang University, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University — a total of seven Chinese universities are positioned within the world’s top 50.

The results are “encouraging” and fully affirm the continuous improvement and dedicated efforts of Hong Kong's higher education sector as all eight government-subsidized universities scaled new heights, an Education Bureau spokesman said.

“The results also demonstrate the significant strides made by the Special Administrative Region government in establishing Hong Kong as an international education hub,” the spokesman added.

HKU said in a statement that it represented a full endorsement of the university's excellence in teaching quality, research innovation, and international collaboration.

HKU's President and Vice-Chancellor Zhang Xiang affirmed the university's commitment to “pursuing excellence" and contributing to the high-quality development of Hong Kong and the nation through top-tier research and knowledge exchange.

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CUHK celebrated holding a strong position at 41st, up three places. President Dennis Lo Yuk-Ming described the result as “deeply encouraging”, reflecting CUHK's continuous advancement in teaching, research, and internationalization. He pledged to nurture future leaders with a global vision and a commitment to society.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology recorded a significant jump, soaring eight places to rank 58th worldwide. The university stated it remains dedicated to "innovative teaching, outstanding research, and impactful knowledge transfer", while strengthening its global partnerships.

City University of Hong Kong (CityU) ranked 75th, with President Freddy Boey Yin-chiang noting the institution's "vibrant development" and recognition for its academic and innovative research. He emphasized CityU's role in fostering global talent and reinforcing Hong Kong's status as a regional and international education hub.

At 83rd, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) will continue to "pursue excellence," according to its president Teng Jin-guang. He highlighted the university's strategy of blending its teacher education heritage with forward-looking, interdisciplinary research to cultivate talent and support national goals in education.

The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) made a notable debut on the list at 195th. President John Lee Chi-Kin said the placement demonstrates the dedication of staff and students in advancing education and research with global impact.

Hong Kong Baptist University improved its standing, moving up from the 251-300 band to the 201-250 band. The university indicated it would continue to consider various global rankings as a reference for enhancing its teaching and research.

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Lingnan University, positioned in the 301-350 band, was commended by its president Joe Qin Sizhao for making "significant progress" in research output and citation impact, reinforcing its ambition to be a leading liberal arts research university comprehensive in arts and sciences in the digital era.

Contact the writer at stacyshi@chinadailyhk.com