Press Release
September 10, 2013

Sen. Pia on the 2013 QS World University Rankings

Senator Pia S. Cayetano today said the latest world university rankings should give Filipinos an indication of how the Philippines fares overall in the field of higher education and learning.

"The survey affirms the observation of many of our education officials and academicians that our higher education institutions (HEIs) lack focus on research and faculty training, two of the criteria which pulled down the rankings of our leading universities in the world survey," said Cayetano, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture.

The senator is referring to the 2013 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) where the University of the Philippines slipped from 348 last year to 380, Ateneo de Manila from 451-500 last year to 501-550, De La Salle retaining its spot last year at 601, and University of Santo Tomas going down from 601+ last year to 701+.

"On the other hand, a closer look would reveal that our top schools actually fared better in the world university rankings based on subject," added the senator, citing the 2013 World University Rankings by Subject released in July also by Quacquarelli Symonds.

In the said survey, the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila and De La Salle University all made it to the top 200 schools globally.

She noted that UP and Ateneo ranked 51-100th for English and language and DLSU at the 101-150th spot. Ateneo also made it to the top 151-200 schools in modern languages, while UP was in the top 151-200th rank for agriculture and forestry.

Cayetano said the latest world university rankings in the survey underscore the need for the government to increase support for State Colleges and Universities and to coordinate more closely with both private and public HEIs to improve further on our strong subjects, as well as the research and faculty development aspects in their academic programs, which are crucial to making our schools globally competitive.

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