Nine Malaysian universities, led by Universiti Malaya (UM), are in the 2025 CWUR Global 2000 rankings, but most saw a drop in position due to weakened research performance and limited funding. UM fell 12 spots to 411th, while Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) dropped to 785th. However, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) climbed 10 spots. Other Malaysian universities included are Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), and Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP).CWUR president Dr. Nadim Mahassen highlighted the challenges Malaysia faces in education and research, noting the country's struggle to keep pace with global competition, especially from well-funded institutions. The global top universities remain dominated by US and UK institutions, with China’s universities rapidly rising due to sustained investments in higher education.