The Times World University Ranking 2027 showed the presence of 32 Iraqi universities, today Wednesday, in its new edition compared to 25 universities in the 2026 edition, with an increase of 7 universities and a growth rate of about 28 percent.
The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research stated in a statement received by the news agency Video, that the 2027 edition included the evaluation of 2,297 universities from 118 countries and regions compared to 2,191 universities from 115 countries and regions in the previous edition, making the new edition the widest in the history of the ranking to date, with the adoption of more detailed ranking ranges for universities located outside the top ranks, allowing for more accurate levels of comparison and measurement of institutional performance.
It added that the universities competed according to the ranking methodology adopted by the Times Higher Education, which relies on 18 performance indicators distributed across five main axes: teaching and learning environment at 29.5 percent, research environment at 29 percent, research quality at 30 percent, international outlook at 7.5 percent, and industry and knowledge transfer at 4 percent.
It continued that the results of the new edition indicate the continued expansion of Iraqi participation in the global ranking, as the number of classified Iraqi universities rose from 22 universities in 2025 to 25 universities in 2026, reaching 32 universities in 2027.
It clarified that this expansion reflects an increase in the number of Iraqi institutions meeting the requirements for inclusion in the ranking, while future development areas are concentrated in research quality indicators, research environment, and teaching alongside enhancing international presence and expanding partnerships with the industry and knowledge transfer.