Philippines Tops ASEAN in Times Higher Education Impact Rankings

Picture courtesy of PhilStar

The Philippines has emerged as the ASEAN leader in the latest Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, boasting 121 universities on the list. This places the country third globally, following India and Pakistan.

Released on Wednesday, June 18, the rankings evaluate over 2,500 universities worldwide based on their contributions to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Philippines surpassed Thailand, with 85 universities, and Indonesia, with 76.

This year's rankings saw more than double the number of Philippine institutions compared to last year's 56. Ateneo de Manila University leads nationally, ranking in the 101-200 tier, an improvement from the previous 201-300 bracket. Following Ateneo are Batangas State University, Isabela State University, and the University of the Philippines, all placed in the 401-600 band.

Although the Philippines dominated in numbers, Indonesia's Universitas Airlangga achieved the region's highest individual ranking, leaping to joint ninth place globally, marking a significant milestone for the nation.

The rankings focus on how universities address global challenges, such as poverty and climate change. To qualify, institutions must provide data on partnerships and at least three other UN development categories.

In Southeast Asia, leading schools in each of the 17 SDGs include institutions from Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from PhilStar 2025-06-19