Rizal Technological University (RTU) has achieved a notable breakthrough by securing 65th place among Philippine universities in its first participation in the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings 2025, an internationally recognized assessment framework that evaluates sustainability performance across higher education institutions worldwide. This achievement, led by Associate Professor Donato Estocado, Director of the International Affairs and Linkages Office, represents a significant step forward in the university’s commitment to advancing environmental sustainability and institutional accountability.
The UI GreenMetric ranking system employs a rigorous methodology that synthesizes data from comprehensive online surveys administered to universities globally. These surveys systematically evaluate existing conditions and institutional policies pertaining to sustainability initiatives and ongoing improvements in environmental performance. The assessment framework encompasses multiple critical dimensions of sustainability, including climate change mitigation strategies, renewable energy infrastructure, water resource management, waste reduction and recycling programs, environmentally responsible transportation systems, and the integration of sustainability principles into academic programs and research endeavors.
The 2025 edition of the rankings introduces an expanded thematic framework entitled “Advancing Sustainable Development Goals in Higher Education: Stories from Our Institutions and Communities.” This theme reflects a deliberate effort to amplify institutional narratives that demonstrate tangible progress toward achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals within academic settings. The architects of the ranking system posit that such visibility serves a dual purpose: it incentivizes university leadership to prioritize sustainability investments while simultaneously fostering public awareness of the urgent environmental challenges confronting contemporary society.
The organizers emphasize that substantive advancement toward sustainability objectives necessitates both heightened institutional awareness and fundamental shifts in organizational behavior across the higher education sector. RTU’s participation in this global assessment aligns with a broader movement among universities worldwide to embrace environmental stewardship as a core institutional value. The UI GreenMetric initiative continues to cultivate expanded international participation, thereby strengthening the collective capacity of academic institutions to model sustainable practices and contribute meaningfully to global environmental resilience for future generations.
