The University of Santo Tomas remained within the 601-800 band overall for the fourth consecutive year in the latest Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, which assesses the performance of schools in attaining sustainability.
UST remained within the 601-800 band in the 2024 edition of the assessment, its ranking for the fourth straight time since it slipped from its 301-400 band in 2020.
The University obtained an overall score of 64.5-69.8, higher than the 59.7-66.7 posted in the previous year.
“We were delighted to see that the University of Santo Tomas is featured in the Impact Rankings 2024 in the overall band of 601-800… This follows the recent ranking for the first time of UST in the THE Asia University Rankings 2024,” THE chief global affairs officer Phil Baty told The Flame through a representative.
Last May, the University secured its first-ever ranking in THE Asia University Rankings within the 601+ bracket.
READ: PH’s No. 3: UST finally obtains rank in THE Asia University Rankings
“Amid great and growing international competition, these are fantastic achievements,” Baty added.
Ateneo de Manila University emerged as the best school in the country in terms of adherence to the SDGs with a worldwide ranking of 201-300, followed by De La Salle University, Ifugao State University and the University of the Philippines, all in the 401-600 band. UST was tied with Batangas State University, Mariano Marcos University and Saint Louis University.
The institutions were ranked according to their performance across four broad areas: research which measures a university’s academic contribution to the United Nations’ sustainable development goals (SDGs); stewardship which refers to how the institution looks after its students and employees; outreach or the university’s impact to their local, regional, national and international communities; and teaching, which evaluates the school’s capacity to integrate the SDGs to its education.
The final score is drawn by combining the university’s score in SDG 17 (22%) and its top three scores of the remaining SDGs (26%). The score for the overall ranking is the average of total scores in the last two years, THE said.
UST performed best in SDG 3 (good health and well-being), where it landed within the 101-200 band. The ranking aims to assess the universities’ global health research outputs, support for healthcare professions and the health of its students and staff.
UST slipped to 800-1000 from the 601-800 range in SDG 17 (partnership for the goals), which looks into a university’s collaboration with other countries.
The España-based campus ranked 301-400 in four goals, namely, SDG 1 (no poverty); SDG 4 (quality education); SDG 5 (gender equality); and SDG 15 (life on land).
For SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities), UST placed a ranking within the 310-400 bracket. The ranking examines the university’s role in sustaining arts and heritage through research publications.
The University landed within the 401-600 band in SDG 2 (zero hunger); SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation); SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth); SDG 10 (reduced inequalities); SDG 14 (life below water); and SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions).
Other categories obtained a ranking in the 601-800 bracket, namely, SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy); SDG 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure); SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production); and SDG 13 (climate action).
According to THE, Philippine institutions were the top contributors to SDG 1 and SDG 6, with four universities in the top 200 in each of these goals.
The Philippines achieved the highest average score (46.3) in SDG 17 globally. A total of 56 institutions across the country participated in the assessment.
Launched in 2019, THE Impact Rankings featured 2,152 universities across 125 countries this year. F
Editor’s note: This article has been edited to include UST’s overall score and the top three Philippine universities that obtained a ranking in the 2024 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.
