By Gabriela Baron
Fifteen universities in the Philippines made it to the list of top higher education institutions (HEIs) in the world, based on the 2022 Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings.
This year’s THE Impact Rankings measured the contributions of HEIs in meeting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG).
Commission on Higher Education Chairman Prospero De Vera said the inclusion of 15 universities in the ranking is an “indication of the growing internalization campaign of Philippine HEIs and their desire to benchmark and compete with the best universities all over the world.”
Ateneo de Manila University was the highest ranked Philippine university, as it was placed within the 101-2022 group, from within the 201-300 spot in 2021.
The De La Salle University and Mariano Marcos State University were in the 401-600 bracket.
Meanwhile, four universities entered the 601-800 list: Central Luzon State University, Mapua University, University of Santo Tomas, and Tarlac Agricultural University.
The Mindanao State University — Iligan Institute of Technology, Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology, San Beda University, and Visayas State University were included in the 801-1,000 spot.
The remaining Philippine universities in the 1,000+ bracket were: University of Asia and the Pacific, Cebu Technological University, St. Paul University, and Tarlac State University.
“I am happy that the efforts and initiatives of Philippine Universities to contribute to the attainment of the SDGs are now being recognized internationally. Their inclusion among the world’s best universities is an incentive to the HEIs efforts of improving their faculty profile, research, student and faculty exchanges, and degree offerings,” De Vera said.
“More importantly, by integrating the SDGs into their curriculum and strategic internationalization plans, HEIs are in tune with the global commitments to achieve the SDGs,” he added.
Only five Philippine universities were included in the list last year.
The THE Impact Rankings assess universities against the UN SDG. The assessment used calibrated indicators to provide comprehensive and balanced comparisons across four areas: research, teaching, outreach, and stewardship.
About 1,406 universities from 106 countries and regions have participated in this year’s rankings. – ag
