On March 12, Kyung Hee University (KHU) recorded its best-ever performance in the 2025 QS World University Rankings by Subject. The QS Rankings is widely recognized as a prestigious measure of academic excellence among universities worldwide. A record 32 subjects ranked within the global top 450, marking the largest number to date. This accomplishment raises expectations for KHU’s continued academic growth and sustained rise in global reputation.

KHU Rises Globally Across Various Disciplines

KHU achieved the highest ever recognition in 32 subjects across fields such as arts, humanities, social sciences, engineering technology, life sciences, and medicine. This marks an increase from 27 last year, demonstrating KHU’s growing academic competitiveness. Among these, Hospitality and Leisure Management ranked at 42 globally. Linguistics, Petroleum Engineering, and Dentistry newly entered in the global top 100. 10 new subjects entered the rankings, demonstrating the University’s strategic focus on specific academic areas. Each of these fields rose by approximately 100 places compared to the previous year.

KHU Administration Building   

Photo: KHU (khu.ac.kr)

From Research Hubs to Global Rankings: KHU’s Strategic Leap Forward

KHU has been focusing on academic diversity and balanced advancement to strengthen its research capabilities across a wide range of disciplines. The Evaluation and Consulting team of the Office of Planning and Coordination at KHU stated, “KHU has expanded research support across all academic fields. It has also actively encouraged interdisciplinary and international joint research to enhance the quality of research outcomes.” The team added, “In 2022, KHU established the Institute of Convergence Technology to provide opportunities for researchers from various disciplines to collaborate.”

Strategic support focused on six major academic fields that have shown notable growth: space science, bio-health, quantum science, advanced materials, artificial intelligence, and studies on human civilization. In these fields, KHU has demonstrated a strong commitment to enhancing global academic capacity through international collaboration, establishing global research centers and recruiting renowned scholars.

These efforts have laid the foundation for KHU’s rise in global academic rankings. One major area of improvement is academic reputation, which accounts for over 40% of the QS Ranking score. KHU has supported researchers to participate in international conferences and publish in high-impact journals. It has also actively promoted academic achievements through strong networks with academia and industry.

Another area of strength is the University’s international research network. Through partnerships with over 500 universities worldwide, KHU has established a broad global research infrastructure, enabling international collaboration and highly recognized research output.

To further boost its global research capabilities, KHU recently launched the Search and Recruit Committee under the direct supervision of President Kim Jin-sang. This committee is focused on identifying leading scholars and discovering promising young researchers. To meet the demands of the fourth industrial revolution, KHU also seeks faculty members and experts in emerging technologies and convergence skills. 

KHU’s rise in the latest QS Rankings highlights its ongoing efforts to enhance global research across a wide range of disciplines. Looking ahead, KHU plans to recruit outstanding faculties, promote international collaboration, and support diverse academic fields. This rise in the QS Rankings is more than a milestone-it serves as a strategic stepping stone for KHU’s emergence as a global academic leader.