Chasing the stars: balancing global university rankings and public accountability in Malaysia

This study examines the conflict between Malaysia’s ambition to achieve high international university rankings, often seen as "chasing the stars" and the basic duty of public universities to remain accountable to society. Under the influence of market-driven management practices, Malaysian universities increasingly focus on performance metrics, global visibility, and prestige. Using a systematic review of existing literature, this paper examines three interconnected themes: the emergence of world-class universities and global ranking systems, the influence of New Public Management on higher education governance, and the concept of public accountability within universities. Together, these perspectives provide the theoretical foundation for analysing the tensions and challenges associated with Malaysia's pursuit of world-class university status. The findings show that while local evaluation systems like SETARA and MyRA boost research productivity, their heavy focus on measurable numbers harms teaching quality, social inclusion, and public value. By comparing Malaysia's situation with Singapore’s workforce-focused SkillsFuture initiative, this study suggests reforming Malaysian higher education policies. It recommends shifting from purely numbers-driven targets toward a balanced system that measures public and societal value. Ultimately, the study argues that global recognition should not be the final goal; true university excellence must be judged by an institution's ability to build public trust, support student growth, and contribute meaningfully to national development.