West Visayas State University (WVSU) participated in the Strategic Capacity Building for Global University Rankings: Advancing WURI, THE, and QS Performance, organized by the Commission on Higher Education – Region VI and Negros Island Region (CHEDRO VI & NIR) at the University of Negros Occidental – Recoletos (UNO-R) on July 14-15, 2025.
The two-day workshop gathered representatives from 27 higher education institutions (HEIs) across Region VI and NIR.
WVSU was represented by Ms. Edel Carmela Subong-Csoka, Director of the International and Local Linkages Office; Dr. Ricky P. Becodo, Director of the University Extension and Development Center (UEDC); Ms. Christine Liz Jimenea and Ms. Vibian Cabagua from the Quality Assurance (QA) Office.
The program commenced with a welcome message from Rev. Fr. Amadeo C. Lucero, OAR, UNO-R Vice President for Administration, and CHEDRO VI and NIR Regional Director Raul C. Alvarez Jr.
The capacity-building program featured expert-led workshops that focused on three major global ranking frameworks. Dr. Joean Escober from Central Philippines State University discussed the methodology and significance of the World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI), highlighting the importance of entrepreneurship, social responsibility, and institutional adaptability.
Dr. Warlito S. Caturay Jr., Chief of the Office of Media and Public Affairs at Silliman University, conducted an in-depth session on the QS Asia University Rankings, emphasizing the metrics of international visibility and academic reputation.
For the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, the session was led by Dr. Anna May Zerrudo and Prof. Sharlene G. Gotico, both from Central Philippine University’s Quality Assurance Office, who presented strategies aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Dr. Danebeth G. Narzoles, OIC Chief Education Program Specialist and CHEDRO VI’s Internationalization (IZN) Focal Person, capped the event with her closing message, calling on HEIs to take bold and strategic steps toward global competitiveness.
Throughout the two-day program, participants engaged in hands-on workshops and interactive discussions that deepened their understanding of how to navigate and leverage global rankings. The event also underscored critical insights, such as the limitations of relying solely on reputational metrics, the need to balance research and teaching, and the increasing importance of innovation, sustainability, and local relevance in higher education assessment.
By actively taking part in these dialogues and trainings, the university continues to position itself as a forward-looking institution ready to embrace the evolving standards of international higher education.
By Gladwyn B. Gustilo/ILLO
