UP Diliman Advances Evidence-Based Engagement with Global University Rankings through QS/THE Symposium

  • Written by: Arlyh F. Hirao and Michael I. Baguisa
  • Photos by: Michelle S. Lagare and Arlyh F. Hirao
  • December 9, 2026
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Participants of the QS/THE University Rankings Symposium pose for a group photo

As global university rankings continue to shape how higher education institutions are perceived, evaluated, and engaged worldwide, the University of the Philippines Diliman convened academic and administrative units for the QS and THE University Rankings Symposium on December 5, 2025, at the UP National Engineering Center Audio-Visual Room (AVR). Organized by the Quality Assurance Office, the symposium underscored UP Diliman’s deliberate shift toward a more coordinated, evidence-based, and institutionally grounded approach to rankings participation—one that emphasizes accuracy, accountability, and shared responsibility across units.

UP Diliman Chancellor Edgardo Carlo L. Vistan delivered the opening remarks during the QS & THE University Rankings Symposium at the UP National Engineering Center Audio-Visual Room (AVR)

In his Opening Remarks, Chancellor Edgardo Carlo L. Vistan II emphasized that while international rankings are not perfect representations of institutional identity, they function as influential global measurement frameworks that shape how universities are perceived by partners, funders, and prospective collaborators. He underscored that rankings should not become the University’s goal, but rather tools for reflection—allowing UP Diliman to assess its progress over time, identify areas for improvement, and ensure accountability to evidence-based standards. He further highlighted that engaging rankings responsibly requires accuracy, transparency, and integrity, values deeply aligned with the University’s mandate of honor, excellence, and service to the nation.

Prof. Evangeline C. Amor, Faculty-in-Charge of the Performance Monitoring Team, highlights the importance of coordinated systems and shared understanding during the Symposium

Building on this perspective, Prof. Evangeline C. Amor, Faculty-in-Charge of the Performance Monitoring Team, provided an overview of the symposium and highlighted the importance of coordinated systems in ensuring that UP Diliman’s achievements are represented accurately and confidently. She noted that the participants—many of whom have long been involved in data documentation and validation—play a critical role in sustaining the University’s international visibility and credibility. Amid evolving ranking methodologies and increasing evidence requirements, she emphasized the need for shared understanding and consistent, well-documented data.

Dr. Aura C. Matias, Director of the UP Diliman Quality Assurance Office, presents the role of QS and THE Rankings in the University

The technical discussions began with Dr. Aura Matias, Director of the Quality Assurance Office, who discussed Understanding QS and THE Rankings and How the Rankings Benefit UP Diliman. She explained that rankings by Quacquarelli Symonds and Times Higher Education provide standardized benchmarks that help institutions track teaching quality, research performance, international outlook, and societal impacts. Dr. Matias emphasized that UP Diliman contributes the largest share of research outputs, faculty data, citations, and international mobility indicators data to the UP System’s rankings performance, making campus-level accuracy and completeness critical to the University’s global standing.

Mr. Michael Baguisa, Information Systems Analyst III, discusses the data collection and submission process for the QS and THE Rankings

Following this, Mr. Michael Rommel Baguisa, Information Systems Analyst III and Secretariat of the System Committee on University Rankings (SCUR), discussed Populating the Rankings Template, Improving Data Collection, and Submission Timelines. His presentation outlined the annual workflow, from system-level memoranda and template updates to unit-level data encoding, internal validation, and consolidation for submission to the UP System. He highlighted improvements made to the rankings template, including clearer instructions, standardized reporting periods, built-in data validation, and consistency checks, all designed to reduce reporting errors and improve data reliability. Mr. Baguisa also discussed ongoing initiatives to streamline future submissions through digital solutions such as the Total Integrated Network for Quality Assurance (TINQAD), which aims to provide secure portals, historical comparisons, and automated flagging of inconsistencies.

Ms. Chynna Louise Riego discusses the system-level data review and validation process before submitting the final data set to the rankings portal.

The symposium also featured a system-level perspective from Ms. Chynna Louise Riego, Head of External Affairs at the UP System Office of International Linkages and Secretariat of SCUR. She discussed how data and evidence submitted by constituent universities undergo collation, verification, and committee-level review before the final submission to QS and THE portals, emphasizing the importance of verifiable, methodologically aligned, and publicly available data, particularly for the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the THE Impact Rankings.

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UP Diliman Data Champions are recognized for their consistent, accurate, and timely submissions supporting participation in the QS/THE Rankings. 

The symposium concluded with the recognition of the UP Diliman Data Champions, honoring units whose consistent and diligent data submissions contributed to the University’s participation in the QS and THE World University Rankings and the THE Impact Rankings. Recognized for the QS/THE World University Rankings were the Human Resource and Development Office, Diliman Accounting Office, Diliman Budget Office, PABX – Utilities Management Team, Office of International Linkages Diliman, and the Office of the University Registrar. Meanwhile, Data Champions for the THE Impact Rankings included nineteen academic and administrative units across the campus, recognized for their evidence-based contributions aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.

Through the symposium, UP Diliman affirmed that engagement with global rankings is not a standalone compliance exercise, but a sustained institutional practice anchored in sound data governance, cross-unit coordination, and shared accountability. By strengthening its internal systems and collective understanding, the University positions itself not only to participate more effectively in future ranking cycles but also to translate evidence-based insights into strategic planning, continuous quality improvement, and meaningful academic and societal impact.

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