Universiti Sains Malaysia, USM steals an outside chance and proved itself a winner after being chosen as the Apex university, a result that will certainly leave its close rival, Universiti Malaya (UM) crestfallen.

Both have been fighting close with each other, with UM seen to having the edge, especially when the world university ranking is concerned.

UM is ranked at 246 in the world table, with USM trailing far in 309.

APEX, or Accelerated Program for Excellence, is an effort to drive the selected university and compete with other best universities in the world of education.

The Apex university is given a time frame of 5 years to break into the world’s 100 top universities ranking. By the year 2020, which is 12 years from now, the same university is expected to be in the best 50, an uphill task to achieve.

Apart from USM and UM, UPM (Universiti Putra Malaysia), UIAM (Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia), USIM (Universiti Sains Islam), UTM (Universiti Teknologi Malaysia), UKM (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia), Uniten (Universiti Tenaga) and UTP (Universiti Teknologi Petronas) were also competing to be chosen.

While it is uncertain that the status will propel USM to compete with top universities in the region and worldwide, the joy effect has been rippling throughout the students, staff and its group of alumni barely one day after the result was announced.