THE VISAYAS State University passed the rating system of the University Performance Metrics with flying colors, obtaining a four-star rating in the research category.

In the eight areas of assessment, VSU got five stars in strategic governance, innovation, and innovation ecosystem; and four stars in education, information technology infrastructure, and community services.

The university also got three stars in research and two stars in internationalization.

UPM, a regional rating system endorsed by the ASEAN University Network, accredited VSU after securing an institutional score of 605.5 points.

Professor Nguyen Huu Duc, UPM Project Manager, expressed hopes that the international rating evaluation that VSU attained could bring significant benefits to the different stakeholders in the university.

“UPM sees that the results can serve as a benchmarking tool for VSU in terms of strategic development, as well as evidence-based branding that will hopefully attract international students and potential partners,” Huu Duc said.

The Vietnam National University developed the UPM rating system to assess the responsiveness of universities in the Fourth Industrial Revolution era through five core indicators: entrepreneurial spirit, innovative approaches, digital transformation, student mobility, and ethical values.

The rating system also includes a set of 54 indicators across eight categories following two distinctive orientations of research and application.

Dr. Ana Marquiza Quilicot, head of VSU’s International Affairs Office, said the university could have obtained a four-star plus rating if it chose to be evaluated in the application-oriented category.

“But VSU chose to be evaluated in the area of research because only a few universities and colleges in the Philippines will qualify to be assessed in that specific area of expertise,” Quilicot said.

VSU President Edgardo Tulin congratulated the entire VSU community for another successful milestone.

“I’m very happy about this news as this is a great testament to our very strong desire to fulfill our long-term vision of becoming a globally competitive university. We hope that this humble international assessment will continue to inspire all Viscans to uphold our own brand of excellence. We need to do more but clearly, we are closing into our overall goal of elevating VSU in the international scene,” Tulin said.