Leading the pack this year is the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), which vaulted roughly 200 spots to break into the global 101-200 band. It posted an overall score of 89 out of 100 and joined a select group that submitted evidence against all 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
FPT University and Nguyen Tat Thanh University both climbed into the 201-300 group. FPT scored a standout win in the Quality Education (SDG 4) category, grabbing 87th place globally, the highest finish ever for a Vietnamese university on that indicator.
The campus of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City. Photo from the university's Facebook page
Phenikaa University made one of the most dramatic leaps, rocketing from the 1,001-1,500 band into the 401-600 range in a single year, while Lac Hong University advanced from the 1,501+ to the 801-1,000 band.
Unlike traditional rankings that lean heavily on research prestige, these ratings size up how effectively universities deliver on the SDGs. They are evaluated across four pillars of research, stewardship of resources, community engagement, and teaching, with Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17) serving as a compulsory yardstick.
