Several online portals, including The Kathmandu Post, published a report by the state-owned Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) on Kathmandu University’s ranking. The report said Kathmandu University ranked 122nd out of 507 universities worldwide in the HE Higher Education Rankings by a US-based organisation.

KU Vice-Chancellor Achyut Wagle called the ranking “a proud moment for Nepal’s higher education sector and for KU.” He said it marked “a leap closer to making KU a world-class university,” congratulating faculty and researchers and commending the Directorate of Academic Excellence for documenting the university’s achievements.

However, experts and observers have criticised both the report and Wagle’s response, noting that the ranking covers only 507 institutions out of thousands worldwide. They argue that framing KU’s position as a major global achievement exaggerates the result and question whether the university has truly shown global competitiveness.

Concerns have also been raised about the credibility of the ranking body and the institutions assessed. Critics point out that globally recognised rankings, such as Times Higher Education, consistently place universities like the University of Oxford, Harvard University, Stanford University, and the University of Cambridge at the top, none of which featured in the ranking that listed KU.

According to the HE rankings cited in the report, Sattan Astoni College London topped the list, while Nepal’s Dibyabhumi Multiple College ranked 271st. By contrast, in the 2025 Times Higher Education rankings, Tribhuvan University falls beyond the 1,500 mark, and KU has not officially participated.

Critics have also argued that the ranking KU participated in lacks credibility, encompassing a wide range of institutions, including colleges, institutes, and training centres. On social media, Krishna Sharma noted that around 25,000 organisations worldwide conduct similar assessments, suggesting KU’s 122nd position among 507 institutions should be viewed in that context.

Uddhab Pyakurel, acting dean of the KU School of Arts, said the university has been actively seeking participation in various ranking platforms. “Previously, organisations ranked KU using information available online,” he said. “Now, KU has a dedicated unit to provide verified data to institutions like Times Higher Education.” He added that the HE rankings were also based on such submitted data.

Writer Pranaya Rana criticised Nepali media for celebrating Kathmandu University’s 122nd rank without examining the full list. He questioned the ranking’s credibility, noting that Sutton Astoni—a largely unaccredited college serving mainly Southeast Asian students—was ranked as the world’s top university.

Many observers have criticised the promotion of the ranking without verifying the methodology, scope of competition, or institutional credibility.

Hemraj Kafle, head of KU’s Directorate of Academic Excellence, said the university joined the HE rankings mainly to assess its own capacity. “We received an invitation to participate. It was free, so we joined to evaluate ourselves,” he said. He added that KU also plans to enter the Times Higher Education rankings as part of a broader effort to benchmark its performance. “Different agencies rank universities differently. We are engaging with multiple platforms to test ourselves,” Kafle said.

According to Kafle, the HE rankings evaluated KU using 136 indicators across 25 criteria and produced a 64-page report, which the university plans to use to guide improvements.

The ranking reportedly included 507 universities from 95 countries, focusing primarily on emerging institutions in South Asia, South America, and Eastern Europe. It claimed to measure the impact of higher education using 136 indicators under 25 criteria.

In an email to KU, HE Higher Education Ranking Secretary Nour Abduljalil said the university’s position reflects its commitment to academic excellence and innovation, congratulating its leadership, faculty, staff, students, and alumni.