The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on Thursday, July 15, lauded the Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) for being rated as a 4-Stars Institution by the QS Stars Ratings System of the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).

“I know it is very challenging because you have to make hard decisions when you decide to internationalize,” CHED Chairman Popoy De Vera said.

QS is one of the world’s leading providers of services, analytics, and insight to the global higher education sector. Through rigorous and independent data collection and analysis of performance metrics - as set out in the QS Stars methodology - the LPU received an overall rating of 4-Stars.

De Vera, who came from the University of the Philippines (UP), shared that his experience in the university fueled his desire to seriously push for internationalization when he joined CHED in 2016.

“My thinking was quite simple. If CHED was more supportive, more Philippine HEIs can internationalize faster,” he said.

CHED said that LPU is the first Higher Education Institution (HEI) in the Philippines to be re-evaluated by QS. In 2016, LPU was awarded 3-stars rating making it the first private, non-sectarian university to be rated by the QS Stars Rating System.

The ratings, CHED added, are valid for at least two years and may be renewed by the HEI by undergoing a re-evaluation.

“The QS Stars rating system is operated by the QS Intelligence Unit, the independent compiler of the QS World University Rankings since 2004,” CHED explained. It added that the system evaluates universities across a wide range of important performance indicators as set against pre-established international standards.

“By covering a broader range of criteria than any world ranking exercise, QS Stars shines a light on both the excellence and the diversity of the rated institution,” CHED said.

This year, CHED also noted that LPU has received 5-Stars in the categories of teaching, employability and inclusiveness, 4-stars in academic development, facilities and social responsibility, and 2-Stars in internationalization.

Additionally, the university also received a 4-Stars rating in a specialist criteria – its Bachelor of Science in International Hospitality Management.

“Since 2016, I am happy that many Philippine Universities including LPU, have decided to compete with top universities in the world by restructuring the way they look at their programs, understanding the dynamics of international ranking, and more importantly, to really invest in internationalization initiatives,” De Vera stressed.

CHED said that the LPU has also been rated as a “nationally recognized university” that has begun to attract international recognition, maintaining a reputable level of research, and whose graduates have a better chance of acquiring employment.

De Vera noted that internationalization of Philippine HEIs has been a key strategy of the Duterte administration to improve the quality of education so we can produce world class graduates.

“I look forward to LPU joining not only the best universities in Asia, but the best universities in the world,” he added.

Meanwhile, LPU Manila and Cavite President Atty. Bobby Laurel noted that under De Vera’s watch, the LPU system has gone from three to four star rating.

“I think the challenge of Chairman De Vera to be among the best universities in Asia Pacific Region and the world is very possible,” Laurel said. “It gives us a great deal of inspiration and above all, we recognize that we cannot do all of this without your full and committed support,” he added.

To date, LPU has campuses in Manila, Makati, Batangas, Laguna and Cavite.