Reaffirming its research excellence, Walailak University has achieved Thailand’s highest proportion of research publications in the world’s leading Quartile 1 (Q1) and Quartile 2 (Q2) journals for three consecutive years.

Walailak University has once again demonstrated its international research capabilities, with the number of research articles published in Scopus-indexed journals increasing significantly. With a strong emphasis on the quality of publications in Q1 and Q2 journals—widely recognized as among the world’s leading academic journals—the University has established itself as one of Thailand’s foremost research institutions.

This achievement reflects the University’s clear strategy to intensively promote and advance research under the leadership of Professor Dr. Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, President of Walailak University. His policy aims to transform Walailak University into a “Comprehensive Research University,” in alignment with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), which has classified the University in the “Global and Frontier Research” group.

The University also actively encourages its faculty members and researchers to collaborate with other institutions. At present, more than 66% of its research publications are co-authored with international scholars.

Statistical data show that the number of Walailak University research articles published in the international Scopus database has increased remarkably—from 174 articles in 2016 to 654, 764, and 757 articles in 2023, 2024, and 2025, respectively.

In addition to quantitative growth, the University places great importance on research quality. The proportion of its research articles published in Q1 and Q2 journals reached 87.3%, 90%, and 93.8% in 2023, 2024, and 2025, respectively. These results placed Walailak University first in Thailand for three consecutive years. The data were recorded as of 1 October 2025.

Professor Dr. Sombat Thamrongthanyawong stated that Walailak University attaches great importance to research because it serves as a fundamental basis for creating new knowledge. Research not only enables faculty members to acquire and transfer up-to-date knowledge to students but also allows research findings to be further developed and applied for the benefit of the industrial sector.

“This success is the result of the dedication and commitment of all our faculty members and researchers. The University has laid a strong foundation and fostered a supportive research environment to facilitate the creation of high-quality knowledge that can compete on the global stage. We will continue advancing our research to generate meaningful impacts on society and the nation,” Professor Dr. Sombat said.

Through its continuous commitment to improving research quality, Walailak University has gained international recognition and achieved a notable position in global university rankings. In the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025, the University was ranked in the 1,201–1,500 band worldwide and joint sixth in Thailand.

The University’s Research Quality score increased significantly from 35.5 to 51.7, placing it among the top five universities in Thailand in this category. In addition, several Walailak University researchers have been included in Stanford University’s “World’s Top 2% Scientists” list.

These achievements reflect the outstanding quality of the University’s faculty members and researchers. They also contributed to Walailak University receiving the “Outstanding Award” for internationally recognized, high-quality research with global competitiveness for 2023 from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation.

Source: Walailak University website