Hatay Mustafa Kemal University Climbs 30 Places in 2026 Global Rankings

Hatay Mustafa Kemal University (HMKÜ) has achieved great success in the latest report published by the URAP Research Laboratory affiliated with the Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ) Informatics Institute. According to the 2025-2026 global ranking results, the university has managed to strengthen its position among the world's top universities by climbing 30 places compared to last year [1][2].

Details of the Ascent in Academic Indicators According to official data released in July 2026, Hatay Mustafa Kemal University's overall score in the URAP system increased from 156.87 to 166.28. This score growth is a direct result of improvements in several key research indicators. Specifically, the university's scientific article score rose from 21.60 to 23.28, and the scientific citations score improved from 39.67 to 42.92 [2][4]. Additionally, other indicators such as Article Impact Total (AIT) and Citation Impact Total (CIT) experienced positive growth, indicating an increase in the quality of the university's scientific output at an international level.

Crisis Management and Scientific Reconstruction This 30-place jump occurs while the Hatay region continues to rebuild following the devastating 2023 earthquakes. Under the leadership of Professor Doctor Veysel Eren, the university rector who has been in charge since 2022, the institution has been able to not only maintain but also strengthen its educational and research activities despite difficult conditions [1][3]. The focus on laboratory infrastructure, support for researchers, and the continuity of services at the university hospital have been described as key factors in this scientific stability.

National Standing and Other International Honors In addition to the global climb, HMKÜ has also progressed in Turkey's domestic rankings, moving up 5 places to rank 84th among 198 Turkish universities [3]. Furthermore, this year the university successfully entered the prestigious Times Higher Education 2026 rankings for the first time, placing in the 1501+ global bracket [1]. These achievements show that the university's medium-term strategies to enhance international visibility and article quality are bearing fruit.

Future Outlook The university management has announced that the next goal is to enter the top 50 universities in Turkey and improve the global ranking to below 1000. Given the current growth trend in the number of scientific documents and international collaborations, the university is expected to become one of the main scientific hubs in southern Turkey in the coming years [2][4].