KUCHING: UCSI University’s Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management in Hospitality and Leisure Management is ranking 47th globally in QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026.
Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, said the achievement places the faculty among the world’s Top 50 for Hospitality and Leisure Management and number one in the Borneo region.
He said the recognition reflects Sarawak’s growing strength in the global tourism and hospitality landscape, demonstrating the ability of local institutions to produce world-class graduates for the industry.
“Tourism today is no longer centred solely on destinations but on experiences, with global travellers seeking authenticity, sustainability and meaningful engagement with local cultures and environments.
“Sarawak is uniquely positioned to deliver on this expectation and to fully realise this potential, we need strong institutions like UCSI University that can bridge the gap between academic knowledge and industry practice.
“The Faculty’s achievement today clearly reflects its commitment to producing graduates who are not only knowledgeable, but also innovative, adaptable and industry-ready,” he said.
He said this in his speech during the Celebration of UCSI University’s Top 50 ranking in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 (Hospitality and Leisure Management) and the launch of ‘Off-Grid Cooking’ show here at the university today (April 18).
Meanwhile, UCSI University Sarawak Campus Pro Vice-Chancellor, Mukvinder Kaur Sandhu, said the university has achieved a new milestone by placing four subjects in the global Top 50 of the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026.
She added that this is the highest number among Malaysian universities.
“Today, it is a proud announcement that the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management has secured the 47th position globally, placing it among the top 50 universities in the world for Hospitality and Leisure Management.
“The latest rankings also mark a new milestone for UCSI because this is the first time the university has made it into the top 50 for four subjects. The previous record was two.
“The four disciplines in the top 50 are Music at 24th, Performing Arts at 24th position, Arts and Design at 29th position, and Hospitality and Leisure Management at 47th position,” she added.
UCSI University, she said, is also ranked 269th globally in the QS World University Rankings 2026, placing it among the top one per cent of universities worldwide.
In addition, the university is ranked among the top 30 in Asia and eighth in Southeast Asia in the QS World University Rankings Asia 2026.
She added that the hospitality faculty’s achievement reinforces its position as a regional leader in hospitality and tourism education, and signals Sarawak’s readiness to compete internationally.
She also said that the accomplishment reflects strong collaboration between academia, industry and government, as well as the university’s emphasis on experiential learning, innovation and producing industry-ready graduates.
