CHED: Paradigm shift evident as 56 HEIs enter global rankings

MANILA – Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairperson J. Prospero de Vera III on Friday said a paradigm shift in advancing sustainable development goals (SDG) is evident as 56 Philippine higher education institutions (HEI) joined the 2024 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings (THE-IR).

In a statement, De Vera said the HEIs were included for their "real-world" impact in terms of integrating select SDGs in their programs.

SDG is part of the 2030 agenda set by the United Nations which entails a 17-point call to action to resolve challenges in poverty, hunger, health, economy, education, environment, equality, and justice, among others.

“We are witnessing a paradigm shift where universities are actively integrating social development goals into their core mission,” he said.

In particular, the HEIs excelled in SDG 1, No Poverty; SDG 2, Zero Hunger; SDG 3, Good Health and Well-Being; SDG 6, Clean Water and Sanitation; SDG 7, Affordable and Clean Energy; SDG 14, Climate Action; and SDG 16, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.

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

Out of 2,152 universities from 125 countries across the globe, the Philippines is one of the top 10 countries with the greatest number of participating HEIs in THE-IR.

This year's participation is a 93-percent increase from last year's 29, and much higher than the five in 2022, four in 2021 and 2020 and one in 2019.

The globally ranked Philippine universities are the following:

1. Ateneo de Manila University
2. Visayas State University
3. De La Salle University
4. Biliran Province State University
5. Ifugao State University
6. Bulacan State University
7. University of the Philippines
8. Cagayan State University
9. Batangas State University
10. Catanduanes State University
11. Mariano Marcos State University
12. Cavite State University
13. Saint Louis University
14. Central Philippines State University
15. University of Santo Tomas
16. Central Philippine University
17. Benguet State University
18. Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University
19. Central Luzon State University
20. Far Eastern University - Dr. Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation
21. Isabela State University
22. Iloilo Science and Technology University
23. Leyte Normal University
24. Lyceum- Northwestern University
25. Mapua University
26. Lyceum of the Philippines University
27. Mountain Province State Polytechnic College
28. Mabalacat City College
29. Samar State University
30. Mapua Malayan Colleges Laguna
31. Tarlac Agricultural University
32. Pangasinan State University
33. Cebu Technological University
34. Panpacific University
35. Central Bicol State University of Agriculture
36. Polytechnic University of the Philippines
37. Cordillera Career Development College
38. Quezon City University
39. Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute Technology
40. Southern Leyte State University
41. Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology
42. University of Eastern Philippines
43. Philippine Normal University
44. University of Mindanao
45. San Beda University
46. University of San Carlos
47. St. Paul University Philippines
48. University of Southern Mindanao
49. University of Baguio
50. University of the Immaculate Conception
51. University of Northern Philippines
52. Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation
53. University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
54. WCC Aeronautical and Technological College
55. University of Cordilleras
56. Western Philippine University

The Ateneo de Manila University garnered the highest ranking among the batch, securing a place in the 201-300 bracket.

Besides SDG-based evaluation, all participating universities were also ranked considering programs, research, and faculty development, among others.

Before THE-IR, the CHED also lauded 65 Philippine HEIs which were included among the top 300 most innovative universities across the globe, based on the World University Rankings for Innovation 2024 issued last week. (PNA)