DESPITE IMPROVEMENTS in its overall scores, the University of Santo Tomas landed within the 601-800 band globally in the 2025 Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, marking its fifth straight year in the same tier.
In the latest edition of the assessment, which evaluates schools’ contribution to the sustainable development goals (SDGs), UST stayed in the 601-800 band with an overall score of 65.6-70.2, a slight improvement from the 64.5-69.8 in 2024.
The España university has been in the tier since 2021, a year after it fell from the 301-400 bracket.
“It is particularly impressive to see [the University of] Santo Tomas submit for assessment across such a wide range of individual SDGs, demonstrating a real commitment to the sustainability agenda across disciplines and departments. It is a really commendable performance,” THE chief global affairs officer Phil Baty told The Flame.
“The THE Impact Rankings are the global gold standard for assessing universities’ contribution to all 17 of the UN SDGs, across teaching, research, outreach and stewardship, so we [commend] all universities who step forward to submit to our rigorous assessment and evaluation process.”
Ateneo de Manila University retained its first spot among Philippine schools, climbing to a world ranking of 101-200 from 201-300 previously.
It was followed by the University of the Philippines, Batangas State University and Isabela State University, all of which landed in the 401-600 band.
UST tied with five other universities, namely Caraga State University – Ampayon Campus, Ifugao State University, Leyte Normal University, Mariano Marcos State University and Saint Louis University.
Ten Philippine institutions fell within the 801-1000 bracket: Benguet State University, Bukidnon State University, Central Bicol State University of Agriculture, Central Luzon State University, De La Salle University, Kalinga State University, Mapúa University, Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology, Mountain Province State Polytechnic College and Southern Luzon State University.
Schools are evaluated based on their performance in four indicators: research, which measures a university’s studies in line with the United Nations’ 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 or the educators’ and alumni’s integration of the SDGs into their careers.
The final score is calculated by combining the university’s score in SDG 17 (22%) with its three highest scores among the remaining SDGs (26%). According to THE, the overall ranking reflects the average of the total scores from the past two years.
UST achieved the highest ranking of 101-200 in SDG 5 (gender equality), which explores how universities support women’s access to academic progression.
The University ranked within the 201-300 band in SDG 14 (life below water), while it placed within the 301-400 bracket for SDG 4 (quality education) and SDG 10 (reduced inequalities).
It landed within the 401-600 band in SDG 1 (no poverty), SDG 3 (good health and well-being), SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth) and SDG 15 (life on land).
Having improved its performance in international collaboration, the Dominican-run university returned to the 601-800 bracket in SDG 17 (partnership for the goals) after slipping to 800-1000 last year.
UST fell within the 601-800 bracket on six development goals, namely SDG 2 (zero hunger), SDG 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure), SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities), SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production), SDG 13 (climate action) and SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions).
The España-based institution got its lowest ranking of 801-1000 for SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy), which evaluates how universities promote clean energy, not only through their research and outreach, but also their own consumption.
In May 2024, the University obtained its first-ever ranking in THE Asia University Rankings, placing within the 601+ bracket.
A total of 113 Philippine universities participated in this year’s edition of the assessment, more than double the 56 institutions evaluated in 2024.
THE Impact Rankings has been assessing higher educational institutions since 2019. F
