12 PH colleges included in WURI ranking

TWELVE Philippine higher education institutions (HEIs) were ranked in different categories in a report that highlighted the innovative programs of universities.

The 2022 World's University with Real Impact (WURI) ranked Far Eastern University (FEU) and FEU Institute of Technology (FEU Tech) 74th and 98th in the Global Top 100 Innovative Universities, a major category.

For the Top 50 in Student Mobility and Openness, Tarlac Agricultural University ranked 32nd, FEU Tech at 44th, Cebu Technological University at 48th, and St. Paul University Philippines at 49th. For the Top 50 in Fourth Industrial Revolution, Samar State University topped the list, followed by Mariano Marcos State University at 4th, FEU Tech at 19th, St. Paul University Philippines at 20th, FEU at 28th, Lyceum of the Philippines University Cavite at 39th, and Tarlac Agricultural University at 46th.

In Ethical Value, FEU ranked 15th and St. Paul University Philippines ranked 33rd. In Entrepreneurial Spirit, FEU Tech ranked 30th and FEU ranked 38th. In Industrial Application, Cebu Technological University ranked 35th, Mariano Marcos State University at 36th, and Samar State University at 43rd. Meanwhile, for Crisis Management, FEU ranked 13th, Cebu Normal University at 15th, Biliran Province State University at 22nd, FEU Tech at 37th, St. Paul University Philippines at 38th, Mariano Marcos State University at 49th, and Samar State University at 50th.

"The performance of these HEIs proves that the Philippines is indeed a country offering exceptional higher education in Asia. CHEd (Commission on Higher Education) takes pride in this development as it has provided an enabling platform that puts a premium on internationalization. The CHEd International Affairs Staff (IAS) continues to assist Philippine HEIs that want to internationalize," CHEd Chairman Prospero de Vera 3rd said.

The ranking deviated from the traditional prioritizing of research and academic systems but emphasized the innovative programs of universities. There were 792 innovative programs from 309 universities globally that were submitted for this year's evaluation and ranking.

WURI started in 2020 as a new international ranking established by the Organizing Committee of the Hanseatic League of Universities (HLU).

This year's ranking was organized by the Policy and Strategy on National Competitiveness (IPSNC) of South Korea and supported by four other organizations including the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (Unitar); HLU; the Institute for Industrial Policy Studies (IPS) from Seoul, South Korea; and the Taylor Institute of Franklin University Switzerland (FUS) from Switzerland.

De Vera expressed delight that previously unrecognized achievements of Philippine HEIs are now being measured and ranked by international groups.

"This is a welcome addition to the traditional metrics — research publications, employability, faculty credentials and faculty/students mobility — measured by other ranking bodies in the past. These new metrics will provide a more comprehensive assessment of what HEIs are doing, especially in producing graduates that answer to the demand of the fast-paced technology and the 4th Industrial Revolution," he added.

He recognized the collective efforts of HEIs with the assistance of CHEd. He said that this continued acceleration will lead to internationalization, strengthened diplomatic relations, expansion of linkages and foster partnerships to bring more HEIs into international rankings.

Source: TheManila Times