DOrSU debuts in THE Sustainability Impact Ratings, ranks 1001–1500 globally
Davao Oriental State University (DOrSU) made its first entry into the Times Higher Education (THE) Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026, placing 1001–1500 overall in the global assessment of universities’ contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
The University was among the 10 higher education institutions from the Davao Region and among the 72 state universities and colleges in the country included in this year’s rankings.
DOrSU’s first participation also yielded placements in three SDG categories, led by its performance in SDG 14: Life Below Water, where it ranked 201–300 globally among 561 institutions. The category assessed indicators on marine-related research, support for aquatic ecosystems, water-sensitive waste disposal, and local ecosystem maintenance.
The University also ranked 301–400 globally in SDG 15: Life on Land out of 658 institutions, covering indicators on land ecosystem education, support for terrestrial ecosystem action, land-sensitive waste disposal, and related research.
DOrSU was likewise ranked 1001+ in SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being out of 1,254 institutions, based on indicators covering health-related research, graduates in health fields, and collaborations and services that support well-being.
In SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, DOrSU placed 1001–1500 among 1,610 institutions. The category measured SDG-related research, partnerships supporting the global goals, publication of SDG reports, and education on the SDGs.
The results mark DOrSU’s first global benchmark under the THE sustainability framework. Formerly known as the THE Impact Rankings, the Sustainability Impact Ratings measure how universities contribute to the SDGs through research, academics, stewardship, outreach, and partnerships.
DOrSU’s strongest performance in Life Below Water and Life on Land reflects areas closely linked to the University’s location and institutional work in Davao Oriental, a province marked by coastal waters, marine resources, forests, watersheds, and biodiversity sites.
The University’s entry into the rankings is also aligned with its GROWTH 2029 framework, which sets its direction around Global Recognition, Research Excellence, Optimized Accreditation, World-Class Digital Transformation, Thriving Curriculum, and Holistic Development. Its inclusion in the THE Sustainability Impact Ratings directly advances the framework’s push for wider international visibility and stronger research and institutional performance.
The ranking further comes as DOrSU continues to pursue its Regenerative Futures Vision 2035, which positions the University toward becoming a regenerative futures university in the Asia-Pacific. This vision provides the broader institutional direction for DOrSU’s core functions in instruction, research, innovation, production, and extension, guiding programs and initiatives that seek to enable communities, ecosystems, knowledge systems, and development pathways to thrive together.
For DOrSU, the 2026 results serve as both recognition and baseline. As the University enters the global sustainability rankings for the first time, the data provide a reference point for strengthening SDG documentation, research productivity, sustainability reporting, and impact-driven programs in the succeeding ranking cycles.
