The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) lauded Samar State University (SSU) for topping all universities worldwide by maintaining its Top 1 spot under the Fourth Industrial Revolution category.
“Makikita sa ranking ng SSU na tuloy-tuloy ang pag galing ng ating mga pamantasan dahil sa ganda ng kanilang mga proyekto at pag kumpara nila sa kanilang ginagawa sa mga pamantasan sa ibang bansa (SSU’s ranking shows that our universities continue to excel because of the excellent their projects and when compared to what other universities in other countries are doing),” CHED Chairman Popoy De Vera said in a statement on Tuesday, Aug. 8.
SSU’s achievement was announced this year, 2023, by the World’s Universities with Real Impact, now the World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI).
“Malinaw na hindi mo na kailangang magpunta sa Metro Manila para makakuha ng de-kalidad na edukasyon. Pwede kang mag-aral sa SSU at iba pang mga pampublikong pamantasan na libre at de-kalidad ang mga programa (Obviously, you don't have to go to Metro Manila to get a quality education. You can study at SSU and other public universities with free and quality programs,” he added.
SSU’s winning project
CHED noted that SSU’s project titled “3D Visualization of Citywide Geohazard Mapping and Simulation of What-if Scenarios using Geospatial Research and Data Analytics" has secured the same spot for the University.
The project, CHED noted, pioneers a “comprehensive” citywide geohazard mapping and simulation system wherein the resulting maps will have a scenario-based comprehensive plan contributing to risk reduction and creating resilient communities.
CHED said that the project also represented a groundbreaking advancement in urban planning and disaster management by leveraging state-of-the-art geospatial data analytics and 3D visualization techniques.
SSU’s winning entry, CHED said, is just one of the “various innovative projects” implemented by the 10 established research centers of SSU and funded by its strong enablers—the Commission on Higher Education, Department of Science and Technology, and Local Government Units among others.
In 2022, SSU’s “Smart Edubox─A Wireless Sensor Based Educational Service Delivery” project also ranked 1st under the same category.
“Additionally, the University ranked 43rd in Industrial Application, 50th in Crisis Management, and 51st -100th in Entrepreneurial Spirit categories, respectively,” CHED said.
SSU President Marilyn Cardosoe explained that so far, SSU is the only Philippine Higher Education Institution that landed on the highest spot for two consecutive years as WURI analyzes the universities’ real contributions along Industrial Application; Value-Creating; Social Responsibility, Ethics, and Integrity; Student Mobility and Openness; Crisis Management; and Progress during the Fourth Industrial Revolution."
As the University finishes 10 notches higher in Industrial Application, 43rd in Ethical Value, 51st-100th in Crisis Management, and one of the Global Top 101-200 Innovative Universities for 2023, SSU remained committed that it will "continuously produce innovative programs and projects that yield wide and positive impacts."
Meanwhile, De Vera reiterated that CHED will continue to strengthen its “internationalization policies and initiatives” toward improving the Philippine Higher Education sector.
This, De Vera noted, is also a response to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s call to continue developing international cooperation to enhance the Philippine education system.