14 of the best universities in the world for student-faculty engagement

The COVID-19 pandemic has had innumerable impacts on our daily lives but perhaps the biggest impact for university students has been the closure of campuses and a shift to online learning. 

Whereas online learning and virtual lectures were previously only used in a few instances, the last year has seen the majority of students unable to meet with lecturers and peers face-to-face. 

This change has made the level of engagement between students and faculty at each university even more important than normal, with top universities ensuring that their students are still able to contact faculty, ask questions and receive personalised feedback. 

Measuring student-faculty engagement with QS Stars 

As part of the QS Stars rating system, universities can be assessed on the level of student-faculty engagement available on their programs. This assessment considers several indicators, including: 

• Opportunities for scheduled one-on-one conversations with faculty 

• Live tutoring in small groups, led by a faculty member or other academic leader 

• Live-streamed lectures which can be attended in real-time (i.e., not pre-recorded) 

• Opportunities to provide feedback and online assessments of faculty performance 

Wondering which universities are among the best in the world when it comes to student-faculty engagement? Here’s a closer look at 14 universities to have received a perfect score for this criteria in a recent QS Stars rating. 

IU International University of Applied Sciences

Located in Germany, the IU International University of Applied Sciences offers programs in both German and English, with more than 150 courses available in total. The university has been offering distance learning programs for 10 years now. 

HELP University 

Teaching at this Malaysian university spans several faculties, including the largest behavioural sciences faculty in Southeast Asia for a private educational institution. The university was also the first outside of the United Kingdom to offer the University of London External Programme's Diploma in Economics. 

MISR University for Science & Technology 

Established in the city of Giza over 20 years ago, the Misr University for Science & Technology consists of over a dozen faculties. Subject areas taught at the university include pharmacy, biotechnology and dental surgery. 

United Arab Emirates University 

The United Arab Emirates University is the first in this list to feature in the QS World University Rankings. The university is currently ranked 284th in the world, placed in between the University of Cologne and the University of Tartu. 

Coventry University 

Coventry University also features in the most recent QS World University Rankings, achieving a rank of 541-550. Home to over 14,000 international students, the university also has a campus in Poland. 

Telkom University 

Often referred to as simply Tel-U, Telkom University is a relatively new institution having been established in 2013. Approximately 27,000 students are enrolled across all of Tel-U's campuses. 

Taylor’s University 

Ranked 379th in the world in the QS World University Rankings, Taylor’s University is the top private university in Southeast Asia. The university says it is dedicated to making education engaging, effective and relevant. 

Universidad Tecnologica Equinoccial 

Universidad Tecnologica Equinoccial, also known as Universidad UTE, is one of the top research universities in Ecuador. It also offers a range of student welfare services, including academic tutoring and vocational guidance. 

INTI International University 

Consisting of six campuses across Malaysia, INTI International University only achieved full university status as recently as 2010. Faculties at the university include art & design, business, and health sciences. 

University of Nicosia 

The University of Nicosia is the largest university in Cyprus, with 12,000 students from a total of 70 countries around the world enrolled here. It was the first university in the world to offer a master’s in cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, and it also founded the largest medical school in Cyprus. 

Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University 

A leading technical university, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University also features in the latest QS World University Rankings, placing 401st. Around 7,000 international students are enrolled there, from over 100 countries, with programs taught in both Russian and English. 

Universitas Tarumanagara 

One of the oldest universities in Indonesia, Universitas Tarumanagara uses an online platform called LINTAR to centralize all its academic activities, allowing students to access necessary services and their academic information from either on- or off-campus. 

Universiti Malaysia Perlis 

Ranked 801-1000 in the latest QS World University Rankings, Universiti Malaysia Perlis offers degree programs for around 14,000 students. There are three permanent campuses, covering more than 1,350 acres in total. 

Applied Science Private University 

The first university in the Arab region to receive a four-star overall rating in QS Stars, the Applied Science Private University celebrates 30 years of teaching students this year. Around 8,500 students are enrolled here, with the majority studying at undergraduate level.