MANILA, Philippines — Despite the country’s dismal performance of the education sector as based on a report from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), the Philippines has reason to celebrate as 121 of its universities have been recognized in this year's Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.

The significant achievement indicated an impressive increase from 56 institutions last year that positions the country with the most ranked schools among all Southeast Asian nations.

Among the notable institutions included in this year's rankings are Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), which ranked in the 101–200 global bracket, followed by Batangas State University, Isabela State University and the University of the Philippines, which are within the 401–600 global bracket.

University of Santo Tomas (UST) held its position in the 601–800 band for the fifth consecutive year while Caraga State University–Ampayon campus, Ifugao State University (ISU), Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), Leyte Normal University and Saint Louis University (SLU) joined the group after registering similar progressive developments.

The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings are an assessment that evaluates universities worldwide based on their progress towards the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals. These goals cover a wide range of critical global issues, including environmental sustainability, social inclusion, economic growth, clean energy, and global partnerships.