Busan, South Korea – Wesleyan University-Philippines (WUP) has achieved a significant international milestone, securing the 45th place ranking globally in two critical categories of the 2025 World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI). This outstanding performance was announced during the WURI Global Conference held from September 24-26, 2025, at Tongmyong University in Busan, South Korea.The delegation from Wesleyan University – Philippines was headed by University President, Dr. Irineo G. Alvaro, Jr., and included Vice President for Administration and Planning Dr. Gladys P. Mangiduyos, QA Director Dr. John Jason M. Villaroman, Chairman of the Crisis Management Committee Mr. Renato Salvador, HRD Director and Vice Chair of the Crisis Management Committee Dr. Abraham A. Pascua, CESO III, Dean of the College of Criminal Justice Education and Head of Security of the CMC Dr. Mercinario I. Santos, Director, Office of Instruction and concurrent Director for the WUP Center for Lifelong Learning Dr. Juanito C. Leabres Jr., and Dean of the College of Nursing Dr. Carissa Juliana R. Balaria.
WURI is distinguished from traditional academic rankings by its focus on evaluating universities for their innovative programs, real-world contributions, and tangible societal impact—rather than conventional metrics like publications or endowments. Co-organized by the Hanseatic League of Universities (HLU), WURI assesses institutions based on their excellence in areas such as Industrial Application, Entrepreneurial Spirit, and Ethical Values.
A Dual Victory in Global Innovation
WU-P, participating for the first time, was recognized in both the A5: Crisis Management and B1: Visionary Leadership categories, positioning the University among the world’s leading academic institutions in transformative innovation. This achievement is a clear affirmation of WU-P’s collective commitment to excellence and relevance in the global landscape.
Rio Anne Dizon, Director of the Office of Internationalization and Linkages, emphasized the profound significance of the recognition:
“We are honored that in our first participation in the World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI), where 203 university presidents worldwide evaluate 4,866 innovation cases from 1,350 universities across the globe, Wesleyan University – Philippines (WU-P) was recognized with a 45th place ranking in both the A5: Crisis Management, and B1: Visionary Leadership categories. This milestone is a testament to our university community’s collective commitment to character, scholarship, and service, which translates to resilience, innovation, and servant leadership. It is through this recognition that WU-P was invited to the 2025 WURI Global Conference in Busan, Korea, where we proudly represent our institution and the Philippines among the world’s leading academic institutions in transformative innovation.”
Leadership and Resilience Highlighted
The University’s success was underpinned by robust institutional efforts and specialized contributions across both categories.
For Visionary Leadership, where WU-P achieved the 45th rank, the proposal was written by Dr. Carissa Juliana R. Balaria, Dean of the College of Nursing. The presentation of the program at the conference was skillfully moderated and delivered by Dr. Gladys P. Mangiduyos, Vice President for Administration and Planning.
For the Crisis Management category, where WU-P also secured the 45th rank, the comprehensive proposal was authored by Dr. Juanito C. Leabres Jr., Director of the Office of Instruction. The University’s crisis management strategies were presented at the conference by Dr. Abraham A. Pascua, CESO III, HRD Director and Vice Chair of the Crisis Management Committee.
The presenters’ efforts were literally rewarded: an added feat of the tour is that both presenters, VP Mangiduyos and Dr. Pascua, won special prizes during the raffle, with VP Gladys bagging the grand prize—a cruise to Korea, Taiwan, and Japan.
The presentation on Crisis Management proved particularly compelling. Dr. Abraham A. Pascua, CESO III, noted that listeners were notably engaged when he shared that the university had experienced numerous bomb threats that were handled well using the protocols set by the Crisis Management Committee. He commented on the intense dedication required to share this high-impact work:
“Delivering a lecture on Crisis Management under a significant time constraints was a challenging yet a rewarding experience. An exemplary experience joining a cross-functional team to deliver a high-impact piece under a tight deadline abroad. A 3- day period to be remembered for a long long time. . .”
Dr. Mangiduyosshared her perspective on the University’s trajectory:
“Attending the 2025 WURI for the first time has been truly incredible. Presenting our university’s Sing One Tune movement in the Visionary Leadership category was both humbling and empowering. The innovative spirit and social impact that WURI embodies has had a profound impact on me, revealing the vast potential of our collective efforts. I’m convinced that our university has tremendous promise in store – by harnessing our strengths, aligning with the SDGs, forging strategic partnerships, and driving innovation, we can become socially relevant on a grand scale.”
Global Partnerships and Future Direction
President Alvaro capitalized on the conference’s networking opportunities. President Alvaro officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Tongmyong University and was also appointed as a director of the World University Network of Innovations (WUNI), the networking arm of WURI.
Dr. Alvaro, outlined the strategic necessity of this global engagement:
“In the era of a globalized set up, where technological advancement has conquered distance, it becomes imminent for higher institutions like Wesleyan to modify approaches to be able to catch up with the fast changing world. Artificial Intelligence (AI) for example is now one of the most popular platform to effect change and growth. This makes it inevitable for Universities around the globe to collaborate, share experiences and ideas, and work hand in hand not only to cope with the zooming speed of development but also to be able to jointly navigate, explore, and maximize the opportunities AI offers. At the same time set the appropriate or ethical parameters in the utilization, perhaps the products of innovations of such phenomenon.”
President Alvaro concluded by noting that WURI serves as a vital vehicle for this venture, promoting a ranking system that values social responsibility and enables mutual learning. This recognition is a mandate for the entire institution to widen its focus and join the “world conquest for more knowledge and wisdom, impactful services to humanity, and contemporary innovations that harness true development aligned with integrity.”
by Carissa Juliana Balaria
Photo Courtesy of Gladys P. Mangiduyos, Juanito Leabres, Jr., and Carissa Juliana Balaria
