ILOILO City — The global spotlight once again shines on Iloilo as two of its premier universities — West Visayas State University (WVSU), a state institution, and Central Philippine University (CPU), a private university — earned recognition in the 2026 QS World University Rankings: Asia released by Quacquarelli Symonds, a London-based higher education analytics firm.
WVSU emerged as the only state university from Western Visayas to be included in the 1201–1300 bracket, reaffirming its distinction as a leading public university in the Visayas noted for excellence in instruction, research, and public service. CPU, on the other hand, continues its tradition of global competitiveness as a private higher education institution committed to academic excellence and community engagement.
WVSU’s inclusion marks improvements in academic and employer reputation, international research collaboration, and sustainability performance — indicators that highlight its vision to become a research- and innovation-driven university.
“This recognition is not just a victory for WVSU and CPU but for Iloilo and the entire Western Visayas region,” WVSU said in a statement. “It underscores our region’s growing prominence as a center of quality education in the country.”
Out of 34 Philippine universities ranked this year, WVSU stands among the select group of state universities in the country to achieve global recognition, while CPU represents Iloilo’s strong private higher education sector.
The QS World University Rankings evaluates institutions across Asia based on academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-student ratio, research citations, internationalization, and sustainability.
With both WVSU and CPU recognized in the 2026 rankings, Iloilo City further cements its reputation as a regional hub for excellence, innovation, and globally competitive education./PN
