UST intends to enhance its global projects and improve its ratios for foreign faculty and students to raise its international outlook score, which dropped in the latest Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University Rankings.
UST Office of QS/THE Rankings Director Asst. Prof. Nestor Ong said the University remains the local leader in the metric despite the decline, citing changes in the global higher education landscape.
“Variations in this indicator may be influenced by shifts in international student and faculty ratios, as well as changes in collaborative outputs, which are areas continuously being strengthened by the University,” Ong told The Flame.
In the 2026 edition of the assessment, UST remained in the 601-800 global bracket for the third consecutive year and ranked second in the country for two consecutive years.
UST posted an improved overall score of 23.3–30.8 across five performance indicators. It saw a dip in international outlook (59.5 from 64.4), maintained its score in research quality (26.9), and improved in research environment (12.2 from 11.7), teaching (27.4 from 23.6), and industry (21.1 from 20.4).
The institutions’ performance indicators were assessed based on the following metrics: research quality (30%), research environment (28%), teaching (24.5%), industry (10%) and international outlook (7.5%), which measures a university’s international students, staff and research collaboration.
“While there may be a decline in the international outlook score, UST remains the leading university in the Philippines in terms of international outlook and continues to rank as the [number two] best university in the country,” Ong said.
“As long as the University remains consistently ranked, it affirms that we are on the map among top Philippine institutions…This continued recognition is both encouraging and affirming,” he added.
Ong said this year’s ranking is the result of UST’s steady focus on key priorities, including strong academic performance, increased research output, stronger international partnerships and a good reputation among academics and employers.
The official also highlighted UST’s new Research Center for Engineering and Technological Sciences as a major step toward improving research output, citations and H-index.
For Ong, retaining the bracket carries strategic weight beyond prestige, as the rankings serve as a benchmark that guides the University’s internal planning and reinforces its “commitment to excellence in instruction, research, and societal impact.”
The University, Ong added, remains committed to improving its programs as it works toward breaking into the THE World University Rankings by Subject, a milestone that would further cement its standing nationwide and across Asia.
Aside from UST, forty-two other Philippine schools were listed as reporting institutions this year. Ateneo de Manila University remained the country’s top school after landing in the 501–600 range.
The University of the Philippines dropped to the 601–800 bracket from its previous 501–600 placement, joining De La Salle University, Mapua University, and UST in the same range.
THE commended the country’s consistent presence in the majority of its ranking positions despite growing competition in the Asia University Rankings.
“This is no mean feat as the ranking has grown to a record number of participants again this year. The Philippines’ steady performance shows that the nation is prepared to step up and be benchmarked on the global higher education stage, a THE spokesperson told The Flame.
This year’s assessment covered 929 universities from 36 Asian countries, an increase from the 853 in 2025.
The Times Higher Education is a publication firm that evaulates institutions all over the globe using various metrics. F — with reports from Rovy Jilyn Fraginal and Mei Lin Weng
