The global higher education landscape is undergoing rapid change, with universities under increasing pressure to deliver stronger research performance, improve graduate employability, embrace digital transformation, and enhance international visibility. Against this backdrop, the QS Higher Education Summit: Europe 2026 brought together more than 600 university leaders from almost every part of the world, policymakers, researchers, and industry representatives in Hungary. Hosted across Széchenyi István University’s Innovation Park in Győr and the main conference venue in Budapest, the summit focused on artificial intelligence in education, future skills, and the evolving role of universities in global innovation systems. Széchenyi István University was the proud organizer of that prestigious event this year.
On the sidelines of the summit, Mohammad Fakhrul Islam, Research Fellow at Széchenyi István University, spoke exclusively with Nunzio Quacquarelli, Founder and President of QS (Quacquarelli Symonds), one of the world’s leading higher education analytics and rankings organizations.
Mohammad Fakhrul Islam (Széchenyi István University, Győr): Thank you for allowing me the privilege of conducting this short interview despite your packed schedule at the summit. To begin with, how do you interpret the latest QS World University Rankings, released on 25 June 2026, in terms of global higher education trends?
Nunzioo Quacquarelli (Founder and President, QS): Thank you for having me. I am glad to talk to you. Well, the latest rankings reflect a continued shift in global higher education, where competition is becoming more international, more data-driven, and more focused on employability and research impact. We are also seeing emerging economies gaining ground, while institutions everywhere are under pressure to demonstrate real-world outcomes. As QS doesn’t have customized parameter to judge the ranking, no matter for context and conditions, but 5 common parameters against which we evaluated the ranking.
Islam: Having spent several days in Hungary during the summit, how would you assess Hungarian universities’ global performance and QS rankings?
Quacquarelli: Hungarian universities are performing relatively well, especially given the country’s size. There are six Hungarian universities in the QS World University Rankings top 4,000, and around 100 institutions from Hungary appear in the global system overall. For a country of this scale, that is a solid performance. One of Hungary’s key strengths is its employer reputation. There is a strong tradition of cooperation between universities and industry, with close links to companies and a strong focus on internships and practical training. This creates a very applied education model, and graduates are often well prepared for the labour market. That is a real strength in today’s global higher education environment. However, academic reputation is weaker in comparison. Many Hungarian universities have historically been more nationally focused and less internationally integrated in research networks. In addition, recent challenges in international mobility—such as reduced participation in European programs like Erasmus—have affected global academic connectivity. At the same time, this also creates a new opportunity. Hungary now has the chance to re-strengthen its academic ties with Europe and expand international engagement further, including with partners in Asia or other continents.
Islam (Széchenyi István University, Győr): What should Hungarian universities focus on if they want to improve their QS rankings more quickly?
Quacquarelli (Founder and President, QS): They should continue doing what they already do well—strong industry and employer engagement. That is a clear competitive advantage and should be maintained and further strengthened through continued investment in applied infrastructure and university–industry cooperation. For example, at Széchenyi István University, there is very strong integration with industry, including dedicated facilities where students are trained in collaboration with companies such as Audi. This kind of embedded model is highly effective and should be sustained.
However, Hungarian universities also need to become more internationally active in academic terms. They have connections, but in many cases, they are not fully utilizing them. The focus should be on developing more joint research projects and deeper collaborations with international universities, so they are recognized more clearly as global research partners. Finally, international visibility is essential. High-quality research alone is not enough if it is not visible globally. Universities need to actively position their work through international publications, conferences, and academic networks.
Islam: Do publications and citations play an important role in QS rankings?
Quacquarelli: Publication does not help alone, as reputation and employer reputation together carry even more weight, which is why visibility and perception in the global academic community are equally important. You have to focus on all 5 criteria we set. Citations are included through the “Citations per Faculty” indicator, which measures the impact of a university’s research. However, QS does not reward the number of publications. What matters is how influential and quality a publication is, which draws attention through citations.
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Islam: What is your impression of Széchenyi István University, Győr, and how it hosted the programme?
Quacquarelli: Széchenyi István University has been an excellent host for the summit. The organisation has been very professional, and the facilities are well suited for international academic and industry engagement. What stands out is the university’s strong connection with industry. The close cooperation with companies and the practical, applied approach to education are very clear here. The campus environment reflects a strong focus on innovation, engineering, and real-world training, which aligns well with current global higher education trends. Overall, it is a university that is clearly positioned as an applied, industry-engaged institution, and it is using that model very effectively.
Islam: Finally, what is your key message to universities in emerging and mid-sized higher education systems like Hungary as they look ahead?
Quacquarelli: My key message is simple: build on your strengths, but think globally. Strong industry links are a major advantage, but universities must also invest more in international collaboration and visibility. The future belongs to institutions that are locally relevant but globally connected. Remember, quality is a journey, not the destination.
Islam: Thank you very much for your time and valuable insights. I sincerely appreciate you speaking with me despite your busy schedule at the summit. It has been an honour to conduct this interview. I wish you continued success at future QS Higher Education Summits in Europe, and we also hope to welcome QS to organize similar programs in collaboration with our university in the near future.
If you missed it – Europe’s race for talent: Five lessons from the QS Higher Education Summit 2026
Looking Ahead
The discussion highlighted a broader message about the future of higher education: success will depend on combining strong local relevance with global academic engagement. Across both emerging economies and European systems, the priorities are increasingly similar—data-driven decision-making, digital transformation, employability, international collaboration, and research visibility. For Hungary, the outlook is mixed but promising. Universities are strong in industry engagement and employer reputation, which gives them a solid foundation in applied education. However, academic reputation and international integration remain key areas for further development.
If Hungarian universities continue to build international partnerships and increase their presence in global research networks, they are well-positioned to strengthen their role within the European Higher Education Area and beyond. In an increasingly competitive global knowledge economy, the universities that succeed will be those that combine strong national roots with active international engagement and visibility.
About the interviewee and interviewer:
Nunzio Quacquarelli – Founder & President of QS
Nunzio Quacquarelli is a British education entrepreneur best known as the founder of QS (Quacquarelli Symonds), the organization behind the globally influential QS World University Rankings. He is widely recognized as one of the most important figures in global higher education analytics and ranking systems. Nunzio is the force behind key global initiatives, including the Reimagine Education Awards, Future17, and the Responsible AI Consortium, advancing education as a catalyst for social mobility, economic growth, and global progress. Nunzio is also Trustee of the QS ImpACT charity.
Mohammad Fakhrul Islam, Research Fellow, Széchenyi István University, Győr, Hungary. He can be reached at islam.mohammad.fakhrul@sze.hu
Disclaimer note: This interview was conducted during the QS Higher Education Summit: Europe 2026 held in Hungary. Minor edits have been made for clarity, brevity, and readability while preserving the interviewee’s original meaning.
