FOURTEEN Philippine universities made it to the list of Asia’s best higher education institutions released by Quacquarelli Symonds.

The University of the Philippines led the 14 Philippine institutions, climbing to 69th place, higher by three notches from its ranking last year.

This year’s ranking was the country’s best so far. Last year, only seven Philippine universities were in the list.

The new additions are the Ateneo De Davao University, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, Adamson University, Central Luzon State University, Central Mindanao University, Central Philippine University and Xavier University.

In terms of ranking, the Ateneo de Manila University placed 135th; the De La Salle University 166th; and the University of Santo Tomas, 186th. All three slid down from their rankings last year.

The University of San Carlos also dropped to the 451-550 bracket, previously from 351-400.

In the 501-550 bracket are the Ateneo de Davao University, Mapua University and Silliman University. The Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology was in the 551-600 bracket.

Joining the top 600+ universities are Adamson University, Central Luzon State University, Central Mindanao University, Central Philippine University, and Xavier University.

This year’s edition ranked the top 650 universities in the region.

QS uses indicators such as academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty to student ratio, and international research network.

UP ranked 52nd in Academic Reputation, 53rd in employer reputation; 62nd in international research network; and 116th in faculty-to-student ratio.

In June, UP placed 396th overall among the top 1,000 universities in the world.

The Commission on Higher Education has been assisting Philippine HEIs to internationalize by helping them understand the international ranking system and by promoting their internationalization initiatives through university-to-university twinning programs and research, study visits by university presidents, and scholarships in top foreign universities.

“Since 2016, many Philippine HEIs have gained increased exposure and visibility by attending educational fairs and international conferences, mobilizing student and faculty exchanges, and building strategic partnerships and linkages which have contributed to the fulfillment of this wonderful achievement,” CHED Chairman Prospero de Vera III said.