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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Philippine universities celebrate global recognition in THE 2026 rankings

Philippine universities celebrate global recognition in THE 2026 rankings

Ateneo, UP, DLSU, UST, Mapúa, and MSU-IIT reaffirm academic excellence on the world stage

Published Oct 10, 2025 12:44 pm

At A Glance

  • The recognition of six universities in the THE World University Rankings 2026 reinforces the Philippines' emerging role in global higher education
  • More than a ranking, universities view this as a call to further invest in research, academic innovation, and international collaboration—an ongoing journey of growth and celebration for Philippine education
Six Philippine universities—Ateneo, UP, DLSU, UST, Mapúa, and MSU-IIT—celebrate recognition in the THE World University Rankings 2026, reaffirming academic excellence. (MB Visual Content Group)
Six Philippine universities—Ateneo, UP, DLSU, UST, Mapúa, and MSU-IIT—celebrate recognition in the THE World University Rankings 2026, reaffirming academic excellence. (MB Visual Content Group)
Six Philippine universities are celebrating their continued presence in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026, released on October 9—marking another milestone for the country’s higher education sector.
Leading the celebration is Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), which retained its position as the nation’s top-ranked university for the fourth consecutive year, placing within the 1,001–1,200 band worldwide.
It was followed by the University of the Philippines (UP) in the 1,201–1,500 range, while De La Salle University (DLSU), Mapúa University, Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT), and the University of Santo Tomas (UST) shared the 1,501+ bracket.
The six Philippine universities took to their official websites and social media platforms to celebrate their continued recognition in the 2026 rankings.
Ateneo leads the way
Ateneo celebrated its sustained performance, calling the recognition a testament to its “transformative mission” in education and social development.
Ateneo / Facebook
Ateneo / Facebook
In a statement posted on its official website, Ateneo President Fr. Roberto Yap, SJ, lauded the collective efforts of students, faculty, researchers, and staff, emphasizing that the distinction “underscores Ateneo’s transformative impact as a force for good.”
Despite maintaining the same band as in previous years, Ateneo noted steady improvements across indicators—particularly in research quality and international collaboration.
The university reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening global partnerships and advancing research that addresses local and regional challenges.
Other universities mark the moment
At De La Salle University, administrators and researchers also welcomed the results.
DLSU / Facebook
DLSU / Facebook
DLSU Vice President for Research and Innovation Dr. Raymond Tan, in a post on the university’s Facebook page, said the ranking “serves as both recognition and motivation,” guiding the university’s pursuit of continuous improvement in education, research, and social engagement.
Mapúa University, celebrating more than a century of academic excellence, also highlighted in a Facebook post its continued inclusion in the global rankings as evidence of its long-standing commitment to innovation and technology-driven education.
Mapua / Facebook
Mapua / Facebook
The university reiterated its mission to produce “future-ready leaders and global innovators.”
In Mindanao, MSU-IIT marked its second year in the global list with pride, noting significant gains in international outlook and industry collaboration.
MSU-IIT
MSU-IIT
The university said on its official website that it views the recognition as validation of its efforts to position Mindanao as a center of world-class research and education.
On Facebook, UST also celebrated its consistent standing within the 1,501+ bracket, citing growth in its teaching and research environment.
UST / Facebook
UST / Facebook
UST credited its faculty and researchers for expanding the university’s research footprint and strengthening industry partnerships.
A growing global presence
While no new Philippine university entered the list this year, THE noted “steady gains” in key metrics such as research environment, citations, and international outlook.
Collectively, these achievements signal the country’s growing competitiveness and visibility in the global academic landscape.
Global and regional context
In Southeast Asia, the National University of Singapore (NUS) continued to lead the region, ranking 17th globally.
On the world stage, the University of Oxford held the top spot for the eighth consecutive year, followed by MIT, Princeton, and Cambridge.

Related Tags

THE World University Rankings 2026 Philippine university rankings Ateneo UP DLSU Mapúa MSU-IIT UST
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