By Prof. Melba Angni
“Strengthening Global Presence and Advancing Toward Higher International Rankings”
Mindanao State University proudly represented the Philippines at the Quacquarelli Symonds QS Higher Education Summit: Asia Pacific 2025, hosted by Korea University, Seoul, from November 4–6, 2025. The event gathered university leaders, internationalization and ranking experts, and higher education innovators across the Asia-Pacific region to discuss the future of ”Next-Gen Higher Education: Building Sustainable Futures through Global Collaboration”.
MSU joined the official Philippine delegation led by Commissioner Dr. Michelle Aguilar-Ong of the Commission on Higher Education, together with other top Philippine higher education institutions recognized in the QS World University Rankings. This participation affirms MSU’s growing commitment to internationalization, global engagement, and continuous improvement in world university ranking systems.
MSU’s participation reflects the University’s dedication and the MSU System President Atty. Paisalin P.D. Tago’s commitment to his 9-Point Agenda of building meaningful linkages with global institutions and to positioning MSU in terms of quality education and global competitiveness.
MSU continues to appear in the QS Asia University Rankings 2026, this year in the 1001-1100 band, reaffirming its standing as one of the Philippines’ leading public universities recognized in the QS global ranking system.
Participation in the QS Summit strengthens our resolve to elevate MSU’s ranking performance through intensified efforts in:
* Expanding international partnerships and academic collaborations;
* Promoting faculty and student mobility;
* Advancing joint research and publications with global universities; and
* Showcasing MSU’s contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through education, innovation, and culture.
The Summit also opened new opportunities for collaboration and benchmarking with universities from Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, in areas such as research, innovation, culture, and sustainability, key dimensions that will shape MSU’s pathway to a higher QS global ranking.
This international engagement underscores MSU’s strategic direction toward becoming a globally connected, research-driven, and sustainability-oriented university, one that proudly represents the diversity and excellence of Mindanao and the Filipino people.
