Why Philippine universities are falling behind in global rankings

Philippine universities are facing an uphill battle on the global academic stage, according to the newly released Philippines University Rankings 2025 by the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR), published on Monday, June 2.

- By MERLINA HERNANDO-MALIPOT

Despite the inclusion of two institutions—University of the Philippines Manila and UP Diliman—CWUR noted that the overall outlook for the country’s higher education sector is characterized by stagnation and declining global competitiveness.

“The national picture is a cause for concern amid intensified global competition from well-funded institutions,” CWUR said in a statement.

CWUR pointed out that the Philippines is “struggling to compete against rivals worldwide”—with one university improving from last year and one falling in the rankings.

CWUR noted that UP Manila remains the top-ranking university in the Philippines; however, its position in the global list dropped 40 spots to 1,677th, compared to last year.

The decline is attributed mainly to drops in employability and research output—two key indicators measured by CWUR.

Meanwhile, UP Diliman showed a modest improvement, climbing 11 places to 1,784th, though this was not enough to shift the narrative of the country’s overall performance.