Ateneo, UP Top Philippine Institutions in THE World University Rankings 2023

Ten Philippine universities joined the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2023 along with more than 1,700 higher education institutions across 104 countries and regions.

Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) unseated the University of the Philippines (UP) to take the top spot with a rank of 351-400.

It was followed by UP in the 801-1000 ranking, De La Salle University (1201-1500), Mapua University (1501+), Cebu Technological University (Reporter), Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology (Reporter), University of Santo Tomas (Reporter), University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (Reporter), Tarlac Agricultural University (Reporter), and Visayas State University (Reporter).

Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chair Prospero “Popoy” De Vera III commended the universities in a press release on Oct. 12, noting that ADMU entering the top 301-400 is the highest ranking ever to be received by a Philippine institution in the THE World University Rankings.

The naming of five state universities and colleges in the rankings is also the highest number of Philippine public universities to ever make it in any world university rankings, the release said.

"The dramatic increase in the number of internationalized Philippines HEIs shows that our universities continuously benchmark themselves with the best universities in the world and are improving their programs, faculty and facilities to produce graduates that are globally competitive and industry-matched," De Vera was quoted as saying. "In other words, an increasing number of Philippine HEIs are globally competitive and world-class."

The University of Oxford in the United Kingdom topped the rankings for the seventh consecutive year. Harvard University followed behind in second place, while the University of Cambridge jumped from joint fifth last year to joint third this year. Harvard also topped the teaching pillar, while Oxford is best in the research pillar.

The THE World University Rankings are based on 13 indicators to measure an institution's performance in four areas: teaching, research, knowledge transfer, and international outlook.

ADMU garnered an overall score of 45.0-46.9, with ratings of 32.4 in teaching, 9.5 in research, 97.0 in citations, 37.6 in industry income, and 31.8 in international outlook. Meanwhile, UP had an overall score of 29.8-33.9, with grades of 21.4 in teaching, 16.6 in research, 62.5 in citations, 41.4 in industry income, and 34.6 in international outlook.