Universities from Thailand lead the shortlist for the ̽����Ƶ Awards Asia 2026, securing 16 nominations in another highly competitive year.

Hot on their heels are the 12 finalists from India, while Hong Kong continues to perform strongly, with its institutions making nine appearances.

In the eighth edition of these awards, more than 500 entries were received across 10 categories spanning the full range of university activities. These were ultimately whittled down to 80 finalists, with 17 countries or territories represented.

A number of institutions are shortlisted in multiple categories, with Japan’s Hiroshima University and India’s IIMT University out front with five appearances each. Three institutions feature four times: another Indian entrant, Lovely Professional University, plus South Korea’s Seoul National University and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

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Two Thai campuses – Chiang Mai University and Ubon Ratchathani University – are shortlisted three times, alongside Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

THE editor Chris Havergal said that the entries reflected “the unrivalled diversity and vibrancy of Asia’s higher education institutions and the excellent work they are doing”.

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“The 2026 shortlist is bursting with stories of great vision, innovation and dedication across the full range of university activities and stands as a reminder that groundbreaking ideas and the seeds of best practice can flourish in institutions of all sizes and missions,” he said.

“We at THE offer our sincere congratulations to our finalists – they all should be incredibly proud to have reached this final stage in another very competitive year.

“The obvious quality across the shortlists means those individuals and teams who triumph will be exceptional indeed.”

This year’s winners will be announced at a ceremony in Hong Kong on 22 April, the first day of the . The summit will be hosted in partnership with The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.��

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̽����Ƶ Awards Asia 2026: the shortlist

International Strategy of the Year

• Chiang Mai University (Thailand)
• IIMT University (India)
• KIIT University (India)
• Lovely Professional University (India)
• Macao Polytechnic University (Macao)
• National Taiwan University (NTU) (Taiwan)
• O.P. Jindal Global University (India)
• Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) (Malaysia)

Leadership and Management Team of the Year

• Duke-NUS Medical School (Singapore)
• Hiroshima University (Japan)
• Hitit University (Turkey)
• Holy Cross of Davao College (Philippines)
• IIMT University (India)
• Nanjing Tech University (China)
• Phenikaa University (Vietnam)
• Seoul National University (South Korea)

Most Innovative Teacher of the Year

• Aftab Amin, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Hong Kong)
• Yang Hongsuk, Seoul National University (South Korea)
• Praveen Kulkarni, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research (India)
• Pauline Luk, University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong)
• Haze Ng, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Hong Kong)
• Benyakan Pongkitwitoon, Mahidol University (Thailand)
• Rosszen Yorkah N Rivera, Lyceum of the Philippines University Cavite (Philippines)
• Pannawit Sanitnarathorn, Assumption University of Thailand (Thailand)

Outstanding Contribution to Environmental Leadership

• Beaconhouse National University (Pakistan)
• Hiroshima University (Japan)
• Izmir University of Economics (Turkey)
• Kyung Hee University (South Korea)
• LSPR Institute of Communication & Business (Indonesia)
• National University of Singapore (Singapore)
• Prince of Songkla University (Thailand)
• Ubon Ratchathani University (Thailand)

Outstanding Contribution to Regional Development

• Chiang Mai University (Thailand)
• Duke-NUS Medical School (Singapore)
• IIMT University (India)
• Lyceum of the Philippines University Cavite (Philippines)
• Naresuan University (Thailand)
• The Chinese University of Hong Kong, City University of Hong Kong and the University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong)
• The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Hong Kong)
• Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (Malaysia)

Outstanding Support for Students

• Chiang Mai University (Thailand)
• Christ University (India)
• Hiroshima University (Japan)
• KMITL – King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (Thailand)
• Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) (Pakistan)
• Lovely Professional University (India)
• Nanjing Tech University (China)
• University of Makati (Philippines)

Research Project of the Year: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

• Beaconhouse National University (Pakistan)
• Huachiew Chalermprakiet University (Thailand)
• Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) (Pakistan)
• Lovely Professional University (India)
• Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University (Thailand)
• Nazarbayev University (Kazakhstan)
• Ubon Ratchathani University (Thailand)
• Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) (Malaysia)

Research Project of the Year: STEM

• Chulalongkorn University (Thailand)
• Davao Oriental State University (Philippines)
• Hiroshima University (Japan)
• IIMT University (India)
• Nazarbayev University (Kazakhstan)
• Oguz Han Engineering and Technology University of Turkmenistan (Turkmenistan)
• Seoul National University (South Korea)
• Suranaree University of Technology (Thailand)

Teaching and Learning Strategy of the Year

• Almaty Management University (AlmaU) (Kazakhstan)
• Hiroshima University (Japan)
• Hong Kong Baptist University (Hong Kong)
• IIMT University (India)
• Lovely Professional University (India)
• Seoul National University (South Korea)
• Singapore Management University (Singapore)
• The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Hong Kong)

Technological or Digital Innovation of the Year

• Erciyes University (Turkey)
• KMITL – King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (Thailand)
• Lingnan University Hong Kong (Hong Kong)
• Monash University Malaysia (Malaysia)
• The Education University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong)
• The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Hong Kong)
• Ubon Ratchathani University (Thailand)
• Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (Malaysia)