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All local universities featured in the World University Rankings 2013/2014 have performed worse than last year except for Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM).

The Johor-based UTM improved marginally, climbing three places to 355 in the ranking of 800 universities around the world by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS). The annual survey is considered one of the most trusted university rankings in the world.

azlan UTM's position is jointly shared by Penang-based Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), which fell 29 places from its 326th ranking last year.

Malaysia's best hope to reclaim a spot in the top 100 universities was also dashed as Universiti Malaya (UM) continued to decline, falling 11 places to 167.

The other four institutions which also tumbled were Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) and Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM).

UKM fell eight places to the 269th spot, while UPM is relegated to the 411-450 rank bracket from last year's initial position of 360.

IIUM tumbled from the 401-410 rank bracket to the 501-550 bracket while UiTM fell to the top 700 universities category from being in the top 600 last year.

Only the top 400 universities are given specific ranks while institutions below that are placed in rank brackets.

'Intense competition'

QS, which released the rankings today, attributed fierce competition to the fall in rankings among Malaysian universities.

However, it noted that the universities have made progress, despite their latest decline in rankings.

"The drop in performance of the Malaysian institutions this year reflects the intensity of global competition, but a five-year comparison suggests they have made some significant progress," said QS head of research Ben Sowter.

azlan "Malaysian institutions are not yet producing highly-cited research, but they have developed a solid profile among the world's academicians and graduate employers," Sowter added.

Looking at the region, QS said of the 62 Asian institutions in the top 400, 70 percent improved their ranks from five years ago.

This was in contrast to 64 out of 83 universities in the United States declining during the same period.

"The financial crisis has eroded the dominance of the US, as the balance of power swings further eastward.

"While Asian institutions have been improving steadily over the past six years, the challenge now is to break into the leading group of US-UK institutions in the top 10," Sowter said.

There are six US universities in the top 10, while the other four are universities from United Kingdom.

Currently, there is still no Asian institution in the top 20. National University of Singapore (24th) overtook University of Hong Kong (26th) to rank highest in Asia.

Meanwhile, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) beat Harvard and Cambridge to retain the no. 1 spot.

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