The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) reported Thursday that globally-ranked Philippine universities continue to increase with six schools leading the country in the recently released 2025 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings.
CHED announced the inclusion of the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) among the top Philippine schools in the latest rankings.
The Iligan City-based higher education institution joined the likes of Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), University of the Philippines (UP), De La Salle University (DLSU), Mapua University and University of Santo Tomas (UST).
ADMU was placed between 1001-1200 in the world rankings, UP at 1201-1500 and DLSU, Mapua, MSU-IIT and UST at 1501+.
CHED chairperson Secretary Prospero de Vera, Jr. welcomed this development. He said the latest report reflects the competitiveness of both private and public higher education institutions (HEIs) in our country.
“The continuing annual increase in the number of Philippines HEIs that are subjecting themselves to international assessment and ranking is indeed outstanding,” De Vera said in a statement.
“The fact that these HEIS are joining the list of the top universities not just in THE rankings but also in the other international ranking bodies shows the globalized outlook and competitiveness of our public and private universities,” he added.
De Vera vowed to continue assisting Philippine universities and colleges in their internationalization efforts to achieve global recognition.
CHED stated they are currently developing a national strategy that will provide a roadmap for enhancing the country’s performance in global rankings and ensuring the continued growth and development of the higher education system in the country.
The commission also noted that Philippine HEIs have improved their global academic reputation resulting in a 67.3 percent increase in the number of globally ranked learning institutions.
This year, President Marcos also recognized the increase of HEIs included in various global rankings, from 52 last year to 87 as of June 2024.
“The commission will continue to work closely with universities and other stakeholders to further elevate the Philippines’ standing in the global higher education arena,” De Vera said.
