In an interview with the Communications Bureau, Deputy Director for QS/THE Rankings Nestor R. Ong, ASEAN Engr. noted the increasingly competitive environment of global university rankings, and expressed joy at the good performance of the University in terms of International Faculty Ratio and Employer Reputation. The 2024 World University Rankings of QS incorporated new criteria, such as sustainability, which focuses on a university’s impact, according to Ong, in terms of “charting the course and driving change toward a more sustainable future.” The new International Research Network criterion looks into the international connections the University has made and emphasizes research collaboration across geographical boundaries.

Moving forward, more than 12 years since the University was ranked by QS, the University’s priorities continue to address research and innovation, intensified global engagement, and enhanced student-centered education. According to Ong, “addressing pressing societal challenges through interdisciplinary research collaborations and technology transfer” is crucial, and “forging strategic alliances with universities [to] jointly tackle global issues” is part of the actions the University will take moving forward.

Apart from the QS World University Rankings, UST currently ranks 175th in the Asia University Rankings (2023 edition) and remains 4th in the Philippines. It also enjoys the coveted QS Five Stars rating.

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On the first day, the participants, composed of academic officials, administrators and process owners, listened to Ong’s lecture on introduction to and high-level overview of the QS Stars Rating system. This was followed by Flores’s detailed discussion of the QS Stars Criteria. BukSU QS Stars Coordinator Dr. Elle Christine Melendez led the BukSU participants in completing a self-assessment of the university’s strengths and weaknesses as part of the initial workshop activity.

Ong shared UST’s QS Stars Rating challenges and successes for the three cycles of 2014, 2017 and 2021. He also shared the University’s best practices even during the pandemic. Ong discussed the five case scenarios for the participants to fully understand how the QS Stars Rating works, especially from the perspective of the process owners, who need to meet the various criteria and the attendant thresholds, as well as its justification in the validation stages.

On the second day of the lecture-workshop, Ong focused on the Simplified Map Day Process and its deliverables. Related to it is Walk Day 1 Rev 0.  He defined Map Day as a process for planning new projects and that which requires the integration of plans from multiple players or groups. It allows project team members to test assumptions, clarify expectations, and build commitment. Ong emphasized that Map Day helps clarify who needs to deliver what to whom and when, what to agree and disagree on, and decisions and/or issues that need early resolution. This will cover the risk assessment as well as the institution’s decision for “Go or no Go” decision.

The invitation was extended by BukSU President Oscar B. Cabanelez, Ph.D., through the UST Rector Very Rev. Fr. Richard G. Ang, OP, PhD, who immediately approved the request. It is a way for UST to share its best practices with other universities and aid them in their journey of being updated on emerging trends, challenges and opportunities in education.

������Ƶ of Santo Tomas (UST) was awarded the overall rating of Four Stars by the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Stars team from London in two cycles, 2014 and 2017. This was the highest rating given to a Philippine University by QS. Consequently, UST set a benchmark international ratings among Philippine HEIs, several of whom have sought to know UST’s best practices in rankings and ratings.  

UST eventually bested its own previous record by becoming the first in the Philippines to obtain the coveted Five Stars Rating for UST, the penultimate rank in the six-tier system adopted by QS in its third review cycle of QS Stars Rating application.

The lecture-workshop is not the first engagement between UST and BukSU. The UST Center for Conservation of Cultural Property and Environment in the Tropics has partnered with BukSu in its cultural heritage mapping activity. Likewise, the UST Faculty of Arts and Letters Dean Prof. Marilu R. Madrunio, PhD, served as the external adviser for BukSu’s doctorate program in the English Language Studies.

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In his sharing, Ong stressed the importance of self-assessment in HEIs saying, “This requires a self-assessment tool, a theoretical framework and/or conceptual framework as well as a tool for continuous improvement program/process improvement as well as indicators. On top of the tools and framework, it has to do with the mindset and culture for the pursuit of continuous improvement and achieving operational excellence. This is mainly because we want to make sure of what we are doing, make the necessary corrections and improve what we are doing. In other words, it enhances capacity building to do things right and achieve operational excellence.”

Ong also shared with his audience the impact of the implementation of self-assessment of Sustainable Development Goals in Higher Education Institutions. He mentioned external Quality Assurance as one of the most important things that is being considered by the THE Impact Rankings, and SDGs can therefore be used as a guide to transform the academe, since this will also entail articulating the SDGs in the Vision-Mission-Objective of the institution.

The roundtable discussion (RTD) aimed to foster an environment and a set of strong applicable practices conducive to the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in university functions. This event emphasized embedding the SDGs in instruction, research, community engagement, and operations of the HEI for a sustainable future within and beyond the institution. The RTD was attended by academic officials, faculty, staff, CHED officials, and stakeholders from the Top 15 Philippine HEIs contributing to the SDGs of the United Nations based on the 2022 Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings nationwide.

������Ƶ of the Philippines – Centre International de Formation des Autorités et Leaders Philippines (UP-CIFAL Philippines) is one of the 24 global CIFAL centers affiliated with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) specializing in training and research on promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), migration, and gender equality. The roundtable discussion was conducted in collaboration with the University of the Philippines College of Education and the Quezon City Education Unit. 

No stranger to accreditation and rankings initiatives, Ong has shared his expertise in various universities and institutions such as the Commission on Higher Education, Network of CALABARZON Educational Institutions, Inc. (NOCEI), Philippine Normal University (PNU), University of Perpetual Help System Dalta, and Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) – Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Davao, Manila and Makati, the latter of which is rated as a QS-Star institution.

������Ƶ of Santo Tomas has established itself as an authority on international rankings and ratings and has been known for helping Philippine universities uplift their educational standards to be at par with international standards and be recognized on the global scene as also mandated by CHED.

Ong and Office Assistant Mr. Vien Vic G. Flores, have been invited by the Bukidnon State University to administer a two-day QS Star Rating F2F Lecture-Workshop from July 21 to July 22, 2022 to help them in assessing their preparedness for the forthcoming QS Stars application.  

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In his sharing, Ong talked about the Times Higher Education’s Impact Rankings, which assess universities and their efforts against the Sustainable Development Goals laid down by the United Nations. Ong highlighted the areas where UST ranked best, such as Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3), Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), and Life Below Water (SDG 14). These areas were recognized by THE for having made UST instrumental projects that benefitted both the institution and communities. These projects, Ong stressed, were done in partnership with local governments, nongovernment institutions, and community leaders, and have been in place for years.

The THE Impact Rankings is a departure from the usual university rankings indicators that HEIs subscribe to. Instead of measuring areas such as student-faculty ratio, international students, and research productivity, the Impact Rankings look into how universities help make a difference in their local communities and the larger community using the SDGs as framework.

Ong has been involved in UST’s rankings efforts for years now, beginning when he was still with the Quality Management Office as its Assistant Director. In 2018, the Office of QS/THE Rankings was established by then-Rector fr. Herminio V. Dagohoy, O.P., PhD, to centralize UST’s rankings-related initiatives.

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Based on the fact sheet provided by the , headed by Engr. Nestor R. Ong, PIE, ASEAN Eng., UST’s strengths were found in Employer-Student Connections (90.2/100) and for this indicator, UST ranked 57th overall. Graduate Employment Rate was 89.5/100, and UST was ranked 60th overall.

With the rating, UST belongs to the top 60% of universities worldwide that were considered in the survey.

#ThomasianExcellence

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������Ƶ website (http://www.ust.edu.ph) was judged based on four criteria: a.) Design, which considers relevance to its audience and visual experience; b.) Interactivity, which deals with the participatory element of the website’s user experiences; c.) Functionality, which means that the website works well, loads quickly, and contains live links; and d.) Content, which is judged on the engaging, audience-appropriate, concise, and clear information provided on the website.

Receiving the award on behalf of the University was UST Deputy Director for Engr. Nestor R. Ong, ASEAN Engr. Also in attendance were Associate Director , and QS/THE Rankings unit staff member Mr. Vien Vic G. Flores.

Santiago served as country representative in the QS Forum titled “Focus on Higher Education for Fast Growing Economies.” Meanwhile, Ong was the sole Filipino member of the QS-APPLE International Academic Advisory Conference Committee and he co-chaired the parallel sessions under Track 5: Building a Global University Brand during the conference.

This is the second time that UST won the award, with the first time being in 2015. In 2016, UST won the first Silver Award for Most Creative Corporate Institution Video during the 12^th QS APPLE Conference and Exhibition in Putrajaya, Malaysia.

This year, UST was also nominated for the Creative Awards categories, namely, the Best International Print Advertisement, Most Creative Corporate Institution Video, Best International Student Recruitment Brochure, and Best Exhibition Booth Design.

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