DLSU Ranking, No Big Deal
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ANNIVERSARY ISSUE THIS MONTH IN HistorY SC REPORTS FIRST TERM For our Aniversary issue, we look ACCOMPLISHMENTS back at what has transpired over Intended to follow-up their our 48 years of existence. The performance for the first term SEE PAGE / 8 of the school year, the Student Council (SC) submitted a report to the Council of Deans where accomplished projects SEE SC REPORTS / 5 VOL. XlVIII NO. 5 LaSall THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF DE LA SALLEia UNIVERSITY n 21 OCTOBER 2008 THE PHENOMENON OF World DLSU ranking, no big deal university BY LORAINE SAGUINSIN WITH REPORTS FROM ALEXI ASCALON fter a roller coaster ride, DLSU barely made it back to the top of Times Higher rankings Education-Quacquarelli-Symonds’ (THE-QS) list of 2008 World University Rankings BY LORAINE SAGUINSIN WITH by placing 415th out of top 500 schools worldwide. But instead of celebrations and REPORTS FROM ALEXI ASCALON A fanfares done in the past, results this time were received with indifference by the school because of the questionable validity of the ranking system. “RANKINGS ARE ALSO INEVITABLE-IN the era of Free falling universities This free fall phenomenon ranking systems aside from Times. massification, those who finance Since their inclusion to the is not limited to Philippine This was evident of their criteria higher education and the public want list in 2006, four Philippine universities. Dramatic rises and used with 50 percent of the to know which academic institutions universities were included in the falls in span of three to five years total score subjected to opinion are the best.” said Prof. Philip G. THE-QS World Rankings of have also characterized the ranks – 40 percent peer review or how Altbach, director of the Center for University with highly fluctuating received by other universities institutions rank other institutions International Higher Education at places each year. Two years ago, the around the world especially those and 10 percent employers’ review Boston College on his work, Dilemma University of the Philippines (UP), who are in top 200 and above. or how corporate employers of Rankings. De La Salle University, Ateneo de The Royal Melbourne Institute of rank universities depending on International rankings of Manila University (ADMU), and Technology in Australia ranked employability of their graduates. universities and colleges have been Simon Marginson, renowned gaining worldwide attention. But University of Sto. Tomas (UST) from 55th in 2004 to 146th in its methodologies and validity were ranked 299th, 392nd, 484th, and 2006. In Korea, Seoul National professor of Center of Higher questioned by several educators and 500th respectively. But in 2007, University advanced from 118th in Educarion from the University government officials. Yet despite only UP in the 398th place and 2004 to 63rd in 2006. Vanderbilt of Melbourne concluded on his criticisms, world university rankings ADMU in 451st place made it on University in the United States research about global rankings, compel policy makers and academic the rankings. also had a roller coaster experience “The Times results are too easy institutions to develop internationally- For this year, the ranking in ranking in five years with the to manipulate. By changing the acclaimed academies and improve released earlier this month of following places: 2004 – 156th, recipients of the two surveys or how specifically their research performance. the four universities have been 2005 – 114th, 2006 – 53rd, 2007 – the survey results are crunched, the These rankings can no longer be greatly reversed. Placed in 254th, 82nd and 2008 – 101st. results change and often change ignored by the Philippines, especially ADMU switched places with UP, markedly. This illustrates the more the government, if it wants to get ahead which ranked 276th in leading Mystery explained general point that rankings frame or at least keep up with the global race the Philippine universities in the Ever since it started, the THE- of world-class universities. rankings. La Salle and UST made QS’ World University Rankings a comeback in the list with ranks have been open to many criticisms. Implications 415th and 470th respectively. It has been described to place more emphasis on reputation World university rankings cast 2000 Asiaweek Best Universities a powerful and significant critical than research performance. 48 University of the Philippines influence on university systems and This is unlike Shanghai Jiao 71 De La Salle University national governments especially in Tong’s Academic Ranking 72 Ateneo de Manila University research. It is because government of World Universities, 74 University of Santo Tomas funding is important in developing one of the two most world-class universities. Dr. Ellen globally influential Hazelkorn, a consultant with the Programme for Institutional Management of Higher Education THE-QS PHILIPPINE UNIVERSITIES RANKING 2005-2008 Pollution, a major concern for Lasallians (IMHE) in Paris concluded in her Rank BY JOLO TAMAYO AND ALEXI ASCALON findings that rankings have influenced 200th 254th 4,968 FILIPINOS DIE EACH YEAR of pollution. However, he believes that the development of research in because of respiratory and cardiovascular control can be done in order to lessen research-intensive universities and in 299th 276th 300th 372nd diseases that are accumulated through pollutant emissions but warned that it some comprehensive universities with exposure to poor air quality. would be rather difficult. “It’s difficult important research activities. 399th The alarming figure was part of because remember the atmosphere we “Research is not only the most 392nd 415th 400th the findings in Philippine Environment have is not localized in one particular globalized of all activities in higher 451st Monitor, a tie-up report of the World Bank location,” he said. 475th education, research capacity is a 484th and the Department of Environment key marker in the higher education 500th <500 500th <500 and Natural Resources, published in LRT combating pollution landscape because the research March 2007. A year and a half later, not Another pervading issue that has standing of Higher Education 2005 2006 2007 2008 much has changed in the air quality in Lasallians concerned is the issue of lead Institutions (HEI) and nations feed the country’s cities. Manila’s Taft Ave. combustion coming from the Light Trail into both their capacity to produce Legend: UP DLSU ADMU UST is no exception to this pollution. The Transit (LRT). According to Dr. Jaime globally-salient outputs and their prolonged exposure of DLSU students Janairo of the Chemistry Department, generic attractiveness to other HEIs, to source: http://www.topuniveristies/worlduniversityrankings to this poor air quality may soon manifest people should not be alarmed because SEE THE PHENOMENON / 3 INFOGRAPHICS BY MIGUEL REYES AND CARMELA PRADO in health complications. LRT train coaches use electricity as a Taft pollution source of power. With this regard, it will Philippine Daily Inquirer published be impossible for train coaches to emit NATIONAL SITUATIONER last April 9, 2007 an article entitled or combust lead. More so, Dr. Sia Su said “Air pollution kills nearly 5,000 Metro that it will only be possible for LRT trains Melamine scares the country residents yearly” which reports that until to combust lead and other obnoxious BY AUDREY VERGULA today 18 million Filipinos live in cities gases if it is using gasoline. In addition, “with unhealthy levels of particulate through the stipulation of the Clean THE DISCOVERY OF THE INDUSTRIAL matter.” Metro Manila merited the Air Act, gasoline stations were already CHEMICAL melamine in Chinese-made milk rattled distinction of having the largest share prohibited of distributing leaded gasoline the silence of milk-based products in the market all over of burden in terms of air pollution, and in the market. Contrary to the use of the globe, alarming milk patrons nationwide. highest share of death toll amounting electric power, Dr. Sia Su warned that Last September 23, the Bureau of Food and Drugs to 12%. Rahul Raturni of World Bank’s even though electricity is used in LRT (BFAD) banned then withdrew all liquid and powdered Rural Development, Natural Resources trains, one cannot ascertain for a fact that milk, candy, biscuits, chocolate bars, drinks, and yogurt and Environmental Sector said that it does not produce waste after all. In containing milk products from China. This was done to “particulate matter emitted from motor the case of electricity, the second law of maintain the safety of dairy products after reports of vehicles is the largest health risk from air thermodynamics applies wherein “waste four dead and nearly 53,000 infants fell ill due to infant pollution.” will still be generated because everything formula incorporated with tainted milk. With a wide range of air and other is not 100% efficiently used.” China, being the world’s largest milk exporter pollutants that might be present around On the government’s side, promoting and having the local consumption increasing by ten Taft Ave., Dr. Glenn Sia Su from the the use of train coaches as a primary means percent each year, guaranteed prevention of tainted Biology Department said that it will be of transportation encourage the campaign milk products from reaching manufacturers after the PHOTO BY JARED DELA CRUZ Clearing operation. Groceries and supermarkets have withdrawn melamine hard to determine what kind of pollutant of lessening the pollution around Metro