VSU retains global standing in 2025 THE Impact Rankings, tops the country in SDG 9

The Visyas State University (VSU) continues to cement its standing on the global academic stage maintaining its 1001-1500 rank in the 2025 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings released on June 18, 2025. 

VSU improved its overall score to 59.2, a clear rise from 55.3 in 2024 and 53.1 in 2023 that shows consistent progress over the years. 

For the first time since 2022, VSU participated in all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a manifestation of the university’s commitment to sustainability, policy influence, environmental action, and inclusive development. 

Among its strongest performances, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure stood out where VSU emerged as the top-ranking Philippine university, placing in the 301-400 global bracket. This achievement builds on years of translating research into practical solutions and actively working with industry partners. 

VSU also qualified for SDG 5: Gender Equality, ranking in the 401-600 bracket, placing the university 5th nationwide. 

The university continues to open its doors wider for women across academic and leadership fields, with gender advocacy integrated in both student programs and institutional policies. 

Another major development is VSU’s first-time qualification under SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions where the university landed in the 301-400 global bracket. VSU is top 4 nationwide in this particular SDG alongside Mountain Province State University. 

In SDG 17: Partnership for Goals, VSU placed in the 601-800 range, showing its expanding linkages with national agencies and international organizations. 

VSU also posted strong performances in several SDGs, particularly in environmental food security goals. The university ranked in the 301-400 global bracket for SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 14: Life Below Water, and SDG 15: Life on Land. This showcases VSU’s sustained efforts in agricultural development, marine science, and environmental conservation. 

In SDG 4: Quality Education, VSU placed in the 1001-1500 bracket, joining ten other universities in the Philippines that landed within this global tier. 

These results place VSU as the second highest-ranking university in Eastern Visayas, alongside Samar State University (SSU), with Leyte Normal University (LNU) retaining its lead in the region. 

This year’s rankings saw a significant increase in participation, with 2,318 institutions evaluated globally, up from 2,152 last year.

In the Philippines, 121 universities joined the rankings, more than double from the previous year’s 56, making VSU’s consistent placement all the more commendable. 

On the national level, Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) maintained its top position for the fourth consecutive year. On the global scale, Western Sydney University in Australia again led the rankings, also for the fourth year in a row. 

In response to the new rankings, VSU President Dr. Prose Ivy G. Yepes expressed a message of pride. 

“This recognition is a reflection of how far we have come not only in academics and research but in our responsibility to contribute meaningfully to the world’s biggest challenges. We will continue to challenge ourselves to do better, especially as we work toward becoming a global green university. Our scores improved because of the people who put in the work every day. We thank them, and we move forward with even more purpose,” President Yepes shared. 

The THE Impact Rankings is the only global performance system that evaluates universities based on the United Nations' 17 SDGs. It goes beyond academic output and looks at how universities respond to real-world issues through their programs, policies, and public service. 

This article is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 4: Quality Education. 

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