The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) commended 65 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) for being ranked among the top 300 most innovative universities in the world based on the 2024 WURI rankings, highlighting Philippine HEIs' strengthened innovative education and positive impact on society.

“The continuing annual increase in the number of Philippine HEIs that are subjecting themselves to international assessment and ranking is indeed outstanding,” said CHED Secretary Popoy De Vera in a statement issued on June 9.

“The fact that these HEIs are joining the list of the top universities not just in the WURI rankings but also in other international ranking bodies shows the globalized outlook and competitiveness of our public and private universities,” he added.

De Vera noted that the latest number of Philippine HEIs making it to the 2024 WURI rankings increased from 44 last year.

Here’s the list of 65 Philippine HEIs among the global top 300 innovative universities by WURI 2024:

1. Far Eastern University - DNRM Foundation
2. EU Institute of Technology
3. St. Paul University Philippines
4. Cebu Normal University
5. Biliran Province State University
6. Mariano Marcos State University
7. Tarlac Agricultural University
8. Cebu Technological University
9. Samar State University
10. Batangas State University
11. Leyte Normal University
12. Central Luzon State University
13. Our Lady of Fatima University
14. Cordillera Career Development College
15. Technological Institute of the Philippines
16. Nueva Vizcaya State University
17. University of Baguio
18. Kalinga State University
19. Saint Louis University, Baguio City
20. Central Philippines State University
21. University of Perpetual Help System DALTA
22. University of the Cordilleras
23. University of Eastern Philippines
24. Lyceum of the Philippines University Cavite
25. Ifugao State University
26. Western Mindanao State University
27. World Citi Colleges
28. Benguet State University
29. Lyceum-Northwestern University
30. Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University
31. Abra State Institute of Sciences and Technology
32. Universidad de Zamboanga
33. Central Mindanao University
34. University of Makati
35. West Visayas State University
36. Cebu Normal University Medellin 
37. Panpacific University
38. University of Santo Tomas
39. Southern Leyte State University
40. Mountain Province State Polytechnic College
41. Romblon State University
42. Kalinga State University
43. Nueva Vizcaya State University
44. Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation
45. Philippine Normal University
46. Bukidnon State University
47. Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology
48. Centro Escolar University
49. Lorma Colleges
50. Polytechnic University of the Philippines
51. Saint Mary's University of Bayombong
52. University of Saint Louis
53. King's College of the Philippines
54. Tarlac State University
55. Cebu Institute of Technology University
56. LPU - Cavite
57. Urdaneta City University
58. St. Dominic College of Asia
59. Apayao State College
60. Pangasinan State University
61. Northwestern University Inc.
62. University of Northern Philippines
63. Catanduanes State University
64. Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College
65. WCC Aeronautical and Technological College, Inc.

Importance of international rankings

CHED explained the importance of international rankings, noting that they allow Philippine HEIs to benchmark against HEIs worldwide and identify necessary improvements in teaching, research, public service, and the types of graduates they need to produce.

“More importantly, it requires them to do this every year as they track their improvement on a year-to-year basis,” CHED said.

De Vera stressed that the collective efforts of Philippine HEIs, assisted by CHED and the national government, are “now showing results.”

“Rest assured, we will continue accelerating internationalization, assisting university-to-university linkages, and fostering partnerships to bring more HEIs into international rankings,” he added.

De Vera said CHED is “aggressively assisting” Philippine HEI internationalization efforts under the directives of President Marcos to continue producing world-class professionals while seeking niches where Filipinos can excel, such as IT, animation, aviation, and game development.

“Notably, the Philippines is one of the best-performing countries in the rankings, with almost 20 percent of ranked HEIs out of the 12,000 entries worldwide,” CHED said.

WURI is one of three CHED-recognized ranking systems for HEI internationalization. It is a ranking system of the Organizing Committee of the Hanseatic League of Universities (HLU).

“It evaluates and ranks top universities with real contributions to society, highlighting creative and innovative approaches in research and educational programs,” CHED said.