Philippine Universities Excel in Asia’s Latest Rankings
MANILA — April 24, 2025 — New rankings highlight the achievements of Philippine universities in the Asian academic landscape. Several universities show strong performances, reflecting their commitment to quality education and research. This news is significant for higher education. What do these rankings mean for the future of philippine higher education programs and what does it signal?
Philippine Universities among Asia’s Best in New Rankings
Six Philippine universities have been recognized among the top institutions in Asia, according to the latest Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University Rankings. While some universities experienced slight shifts in their standings, the Philippines continues to maintain a presence in the regional academic landscape.
Key Highlights of the Rankings
- Ateneo de Manila University: Ranked in the 501-600th place, a slight decrease from its 401-500th position the previous year.
- University of the Philippines (UP): Tied with Ateneo de Manila University, also in the 501-600th place. UP maintained its position as the country’s leading university despite dropping to 86th place in the 2025 QS Asia University Rankings [2].
- De La Salle university, Mapua University, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, and University of Santo Tomas (UST): All placed in the 601+ place.
Performance Breakdown
The rankings assessed universities based on several key criteria:
- Research Quality and Teaching: Ateneo de Manila University led among Filipino universities in these areas.
- Industry and Research Surroundings: the University of the Philippines excelled in these categories.
- International Outlook: the University of Santo Tomas stood out for its strong international connections and programs.
“Reporter” Universities
Fifteen additional Filipino universities were listed as “reporter” universities. These institutions provided data to THE but did not meet the criteria for inclusion in the official rankings. These universities include:
- Cebu Technological University
- Central Luzon State University
- De La Salle College of St.Benilde
- Lyceum-Northwestern university
- manila Central University
- National University
- Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology
- Philippine State College of Aeronautics
- Quezon City University
- St. louis University
- Tarlac Agricultural University
- University of Eastern Philippines
- University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
- University of the Immaculate Conception
- Visayas State University
Ranking Methodology
the Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings evaluated 853 universities from 35 countries, utilizing 18 performance indicators across five categories:
- Research Environment: 28%
- Research Quality: 30%
- Teaching: 24.5%
- Industry: 10%
- International Outlook: 7.5%
Top Universities in Asia
The leading universities in the 2025 rankings are:
- Tsinghua University (China)
- Peking University (China)
- National University of Singapore
- Nanyang Technological University
- University of Tokyo
Expert Analysis
While ateneo de Manila University led in research quality and teaching, the University of the Philippines excelled in industry and research environment. The University of Santo Tomas distinguished itself in international outlook. These strengths highlight the diverse contributions of Philippine universities to the Asian academic landscape.
It’s crucial for Philippine universities to continue investing in research and international collaborations to maintain and improve their rankings in the future.
Dr. Maria Santos, Education Analyst
FAQ
- How many Philippine universities are in the THE Asia University rankings?
- Six Philippine universities are ranked.
- Which Philippine university is highest in research quality and teaching?
- Ateneo de Manila University.
- What are the key ranking criteria?
- Research environment, research quality, teaching, industry, and international outlook.
