THE Impact Rankings place RMU first in 2025 among medical universities

RAWALPINDI: In the recently announced Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2025, which evaluated 2526 universities from 130 countries based on their performance against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Rawalpindi Medical University (RMU) has proudly secured a position of 601 global band overall and achieved the 1st position in Punjab and 2nd among all public and private medical universities in Pakistan.

The RMU has once again demonstrated its exceptional commitment to sustainable development. It is worth mentioning here that earlier in 2022, the RMU ranked the first among medical universities in Pakistan in 2022 Impact Rankings while in 2021, the RMU was ranked the first in mono discipline universities of the country.

This year, the RMU ranked 1st in Pakistan among public and private universities for Gender Equality, with a distinguished global position of 74th, showcasing its strong dedication to gender empowerment, inclusive policies, and female leadership.

The university also performed remarkably in key areas; 301 in Good Health and Well-being, 601 in Quality Education, and 401 in Climate Action. The RMU has now earned the 1st position in Punjab and Pakistan twice in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, firmly establishing itself as a leading institution in advancing the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals in medical education and public health, said Vice Chancellor at RMU Professor Dr. Muhammad Umar (Sitara-i-Imtiaz) while talking to ‘The News’.

He added that these results are a testament to RMU’s visionary leadership, innovative academic strategies, and continued commitment to global health and equity. The RMU is a very young medical university established in 2017 that got accreditation in 2020 by Higher Education Commission and Pakistan Medical & Dental Council.

Professor Umar said that in a short span of five years, the RMU was ranked top most university in Punjab and Pakistan by Times Higher Education Impact Rankings twice, which speaks about high quality medical education, teaching, training and research at the university. There are more than 16 public sector medical universities in the country of which seven are operating in the Punjab province.

The VC said that the RMU stood twice among top universities despite the fact that it has been facing financial constraints and shortage of staff including faculty. The RMU had changed the undergraduate curriculum to an integrated modular curriculum according to the standards of World Federation of Medical Education (WFME).

He added the RMU revolutionised postgraduate medical education by introducing the University Residency Program (URP) according to ACGME (Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education) standards. This system of training is based on international standards of knowledge, skill and attitude as practiced in USA’s universities. The training model of RMU is a workplace-based training and assessment model (WPBA).

Professor Umar said the RMU had designed its modular curriculum, teaching strategies and assessment models according to WFME & ACGME USA standards. The University had created a robust research system for the faculty, residents and students. “We have more than 30 master and PhD programs for researchers,” he said.