University of San Carlos Downtown Campus. (Source: USC)
CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) — The University of San Carlos (USC) ranked sixth place in the Webometrics Ranking of World Universities based on its Jan. 27, 2025 publication.
Published by the Cybermetrics Lab, a research group of the Spanish National Research Council in Madrid, the Webometrics Ranking of World Universities, also known as Ranking Web of Universities, divides the rankings into three categories: excellence, openness, volume, visibility, and impact.
Webometrics has been published to encourage open access to the knowledge produced by academic institutions since 2004.
Embedded within the Ministry of Education in Spain, Webometrics actively aids in the advancement of scientific research in other nations.
The Ranking Web of Universities, which is released twice a year, evaluates the research content that academic institutions make accessible via their online platforms.
Transformation through education
For Fr. Francisco Antonio T. Estepa, USC president, news of their university’s ranking did not come as a surprise to him.
“It is no surprise that we are in the top university, and this is not only in Webometrics, this is also for the QS world ranking. As of last year we are No. 5 outside of Metro Manila,” said Estepa.
The QS World University Rankings is a portfolio of comparative college and university rankings compiled by Quacquarelli Symonds, a higher education analytics firm.
Estepa credits the university’s achievement to USC’s aim to transform communities through education.
“USC’s long-term plans are centered on a sustainable community response and community transformation through education. Moreso, in academic excellence, partnership, student experience, linkages, good governance, and community extension,” he said.
USC’s flagship programs have given the university a high passing percentage for graduates that top national examinations.
“The flagship programs, especially the programs that would produce high passing percentages and employability such as accountancy, law, chemical engineering, pharmacy, computer engineering, and psychology promoted and focused as these specific programs would give USC a high passing percentage,” said Fr. Jesuraj Anthoniapen, USC vice president for academic affairs.
He added that in terms of strategy, it depends on how teachers craft the curriculum, how the department has a way of teaching those courses, and how they do it.
“Our retention policy is really clear, there are several departments to which I gave freedom to determine their retention policy,” he added.
Sense of pride
Jianne Illyse D. Yu, a USC graduate who topped the Certified Public Accountant Licensure Examination in December 2024, is proud that her alma mater has made it to the prestigious Ranking of Web Universities.
“I was genuinely shocked because I found out this was among worldwide universities. It came with an immense sense of pride since USC is my alma mater,” said Yu.
She said this is an achievement that USC students should be proud of.
“It is very positive for us students who came from USC as well as current students and alumni to know that our school carries a certain reputation that we can be proud of,” said Yu. (ZCL/PIA7 Cebu)
