PHILIPPINES has emerged as a key player by increasing its representation among universities in Southeast Asia in advancing the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) according to the latest impact rankings for 2024.
In the latest Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings for 2024, Ateneo de Manila University is the highest-ranked institution from the Philippines, placing in the 201–300 band overall. This marks a considerable achievement in a region that is increasingly recognized for its commitment to sustainability.
The Philippines boasts the second-highest number of universities from the region in the rankings, with 62 institutions featured this year, up from 29 last year.
This 114% increase highlights the country’s growing focus on sustainable development. Indonesia follows closely, with 46 universities ranked, up from 34 the previous year.
In Southeast Asia, Universiti Sains Malaysia leads the region, ranking 18th overall. South-East Asian universities have made notable progress, with institutions from the region appearing in the top 20 for eight out of the 17 SDGs and featuring in the top 100 for all goals.
Phil Baty, chief global affairs officer at THE, emphasized the impressive performance of Southeast Asian universities in the rankings.
“There’s no doubt about it – universities in Southeast Asia are some of the best in the world in spearheading efforts to tackle the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals,” Baty said in an emailed statement.
Globally, Western Sydney University holds the top position, with Australia, the UK, and Canada dominating the top 10. The most popular SDG worldwide is SDG 4 – quality education.
The THE Impact Rankings, now in their sixth year, assess universities’ contributions to sustainability across research, stewardship, outreach, and teaching. This year’s rankings include a record 2,152 universities from 125 countries, up from 1,705 last year.
