CSU maintains standing in 2026 THE ranking, still first in PH for SDG 1

Jakarta, Indonesia – Caraga State University (CSU) continues to solidify its position as one of the country’s leading sustainability-driven higher education institutions following the release of this year’s Times Higher Education (THE) Sustainability Impact Ratings.

In the latest ratings released today, June 24, CSU is ranked 601–800 globally among 1,603 participating universities, with 160 of those from the Philippines. The university also reaffirmed its leadership among Philippine HEIs in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1: No Poverty, ranking Top 1 in the country and ranked 80 out of 931 institutions worldwide, with a score of 74.9. This is CSU’s highest-performing SDG in the 2026 assessment, similar to its debut results last year.

Notably, CSU also participated in all 17 Sustainable Development Goals for the first time, reflecting the university’s holistic approach to sustainability across instruction, research, innovation, extension, governance, and partnerships in just its second attempt.

The recognition was officially announced during the 2026 THE Global Sustainable Development Congress (GSDC) in Jakarta, Indonesia, where more than 150 representatives from Philippine Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) joined the international gathering. CSU was represented by Dr. Jeffrey T. Dellosa, VP for RDIE and Sustainability Chairperson, with Dr. Junrie B. Matias, SDG 17 Champion, on behalf of CSU President Dr. Rolyn C. Daguil.

Strongest performance in SDG 1: No Poverty

Leading CSU’s performance was SDG 1 – No Poverty, where the university achieved a remarkable global rank of =80 out of 931 institutions and a score of 74.9. The result was driven by the university’s strong performance in community anti-poverty programs (97.9), institutional anti-poverty initiatives (83.3), and financial assistance programs for economically disadvantaged students (85.4). These initiatives reflect CSU’s long-standing commitment to ensuring inclusive access to education and improving the quality of life of marginalized communities across the Caraga Region.

This achievement builds upon CSU’s strong showing in the previous year’s debut assessment, where the university emerged as the Top Philippine Higher Education Institution in SDG 1 under the 2025 THE Impact Rankings.

Excellence in health, water, and partnerships

Apart from SDG 1, CSU’s strongest contributions were recorded in SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), which served as the university’s qualifying SDGs for the overall rating. For SDG 6, CSU earned a score of 52.5 and ranked in the 301–400 global band among 797 institutions, highlighting its efforts in water conservation, water management, and community-based water initiatives.

Similarly, SDG 3 recorded a score of 54.1, placing CSU in the 401–600 global band among 1,254 institutions, reflecting the university’s expanding health-related programs, community services, and collaborations that contribute to public health and well-being.

Meanwhile, SDG 17, the mandatory qualifying SDG, generated a score of 60.7, with particularly strong performances in supporting partnerships (86.6), publishing SDG reports (91.2), and advancing sustainability education. These indicators demonstrate CSU’s growing network of local, national, and international collaborations that advance sustainable development goals.

Top global performers in environmental sustainability

CSU also recorded notable global standings in several environment-related SDGs:

• SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): placed in the 301–400 global band out of 731 institutions worldwide and in the third-highest performance band among Philippine HEIs.
• SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): placed in the 301–400 global band out of 797  institutions worldwide and in the third-highest performance band among Philippine HEIs.
• SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): placed in the 401–600 global band for out of 797 institutions worldwide and in the fourth-highest performance band among Philippine HEIs
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): placed in the 401–600 global band out of 826 institutions worldwide and in the third-highest performance band among Philippine HEIs.
• SDG 14 (Life Below Water): placed in the 401+ global band out of 561 institutions worldwide and in the fourth-highest performance band among Philippine HEIs
• SDG 15 (Life On Land): placed in the 301–400 global band out of 658 institutions worldwide and in the fourth-highest performance band among Philippine HEIs

These results underscore CSU’s strategic investments in environmental stewardship, biodiversity conservation, renewable energy research, food security initiatives, and climate resilience programs aligned with its RDIE Agenda.

Areas for strategic improvement

The ratings also provided valuable insights into areas where CSU can further strengthen its sustainability performance. Several indicators received low scores due to either limited institutional reporting or insufficient documentation, including first-generation student data, waste recycling metrics, university spin-offs, low-carbon energy utilization, and disability participation indicators.

The results suggest that while CSU performs strongly in community engagement, outreach, governance, and partnership initiatives, greater emphasis on sustainability data management, evidence-based reporting, and SDG-focused research outputs will be critical in achieving higher rankings in future assessments.

A collective achievement

According to Dr. Dellosa, the recognition reflects the collective efforts of the entire CSU community.

This achievement demonstrates that sustainability is no longer a stand-alone initiative but has become an integral part of how Caraga State University fulfills its mandate in education, research, innovation, extension, and governance. The results affirm that our efforts are creating measurable impact not only in the Philippines but also on the global stage.

As CSU continues its journey toward becoming a globally recognized sustainability institution by 2030, the university’s performance in the THE Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026 highlights its growing contribution to addressing poverty, improving health and well-being, protecting natural resources, fostering innovation, and building meaningful partnerships for sustainable development.

The recognition positions CSU among a select group of universities worldwide, demonstrating that regional institutions can generate global impact through purposeful action and sustained commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The University commends the Committee and its Technical Working Group for their dedication to translating CSU’s accomplishments into measurable outcomes recognized in international rankings. Congratulations, Caraga State University! Busay!