CHED lauds 56 Philippine universities included in Impact Rankings

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has lauded the 56 universities that made it to the Times Higher Education’s 2024 Impact Rankings (THE IR), an increase of 93 percent from last year’s 29 universities.

In a statement, CHED Chairman Prospero de Vera III said that the figures indicate that more and more Philippine higher education institutions (HEIs) are beginning to understand the vital role that the sector plays in addressing global problems.

De Vera said the continuous increase in the number of Philippine HEIs that are making it to the rankings also signals a “paradigm shift where universities are actively integrating social development goals (SDGs) into their core mission.”

Based on CHED records, from one HEI ranked by the THE IR in 2019, the number has steadily increased to four in 2020 and 2021, 15 in 2022, 29 in 2023 and 56 this year.

“This collective effort reflects the growing understanding that universities have a vital role to play in addressing global challenges,” De Vera said.

He also noted that the Philippines was ranked among the top 10 countries with the most number of participating HEIs.

De Vera said that this progress “is proof that our HEIs are consciously benchmarking and internationalizing their programs, faculty development, research, and public service not only with other HEIs but also in the context of the global SDGs.”

The annual THE IR tracks universities worldwide in terms of their adherence to the United Nations’ sustainable development goals (SDGs).

The UN SDGs serve as a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate and ensure that people around the world can enjoy peace and prosperity.

The THE ranks the HEIs based on their real-world impact as measured by the individual UN SDGs: no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth.

The Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) maintains its place as the top university in the country in terms of pursuing sustainable development goals, making it to the 201-300 bracket worldwide.

Notably, Ifugao State University (IFSU) emerged as a strong contender in its first-ever participation to the THE IR. It shares second spot with the University of the Philippines and De La Salle University, all landing within the 401-600 bracket worldwide.

In the third tier (601-800 globally) among Philippine universities are Batangas State University, Mariano Marcos State University, Saint Louis University and the University of Santo Tomas.

Meanwhile, those within the 801-1000 bracket are Benguet State University, Central Luzon State University, Isabela State University, Leyte Normal University, Mapua University, Mountain Province State Polytechnic College, Samar State University and Tarlac Agricultural University.

Forty other universities and colleges landed within the 1001-1500 and the 1501+ brackets.

“The continuous growth in the number of globally ranked universities in THE IR underscores the unwavering commitment of Philippine HEIs to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and making a positive societal impact,” the CHED said in a statement.