Chemistry Studies at Universitas Gadjah Mada is ranked 451–500 globally in the QS World University Rankings (WUR) by Subject 2026. At the national level, UGM’s Chemistry ranks second after Institut Teknologi Bandung (351–400 globally). It is followed by Universitas Airlangga (451–500), Universitas Indonesia (551–600), and Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (601–700).
The Vice Dean for Research and Cooperation at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FMIPA UGM), Dr. Wiwit Suryanto, considered the achievement a positive indicator of the academic quality that has been developed, although continuous strengthening is still required to improve the position in the future.
“Globally, this position remains very good and within the upper group. However, this achievement is also a challenge for us to continue improving our reputation and quality,” he said on Monday (Apr. 13).
Dr. Suryanto explained that the competitive landscape in chemistry is becoming increasingly complex due to technological advancements and the growing mobility of global higher education institutions. The presence of foreign universities offering programs in Indonesia has further expanded the competitive landscape, encouraging domestic universities to become more adaptive and innovative.
“Competition does not only come from within the country, but also from foreign institutions that are beginning to open branches in Indonesia,” he explained.
In response to this dynamic, FMIPA UGM continues to strengthen its curriculum in line with international standards. This effort is carried out to ensure that graduates’ competencies remain relevant to the evolving needs of the global industry.
“With an internationally standardized curriculum, our graduates have significant opportunities to compete and work in global companies,” he added.
Furthermore, Dr. Suryanto emphasized that academic reputation is the most dominant component in global ranking assessments. Therefore, improving the quality and visibility of research has become a top development priority. This is achieved by encouraging frontier and state-of-the-art research with a broad impact on the advancement of science.
“Academic reputation is the most decisive factor in rankings, so we continuously encourage improvements in research quality,” he stated.
According to Dr. Suryanto, high-quality research with strong citation performance will increase global recognition of the study program.
“State-of-the-art and high-impact research will strengthen international recognition of Chemistry at UGM,” he added.
In addition to academic indicators, graduate achievements and alumni contributions are also important factors in building the study program’s reputation. The high employability rate of graduates demonstrates the relevance of their competencies to industry needs.
“Many of our graduates are immediately absorbed into industry, even shortly after graduation,” he said.
Moving forward, FMIPA UGM will not only focus on increasing scientific publications but also encourage the downstreaming of research results to provide direct benefits to society. Transforming research into innovative products is considered essential to strengthening the institution’s contribution to addressing various current issues.
“We want research outcomes not to stop at publication, but also to be developed into products that have real impacts on society,” he said.
Through these strategies, UGM remains optimistic about continuing to improve its position in global rankings while strengthening chemistry’s role as a strategic field in addressing technological developments and the future needs of society and industry.
Author: Zabrina Kumara
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Photo: Humas UGM