Quezon City, June 24, 2025 — In a historic recognition ceremony held yesterday at the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Central Office in Diliman, 113 Philippine Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) were honored for making it to the prestigious Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2025. Among the standout awardees, City College of Cagayan de Oro (CCCDO) made waves as the youngest local college to debut on the global rankings—captivating national attention and setting a new benchmark for emerging institutions. Despite being a relatively new player in Philippine higher education, CCCDO secured a spot in the 1001–1500 global band and delivered strong performances in four key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 1 – No Poverty (Rank: 201–300) SDG 4 – Quality Education SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals This international recognition affirms CCCDO’s bold mission: to transform lives through accessible, inclusive, and community-anchored education. The ceremony was led by newly appointed CHED Chairperson Dr. Shirley Agrupis, who underscored the urgency of global engagement and inclusive progress. She commended the ranked institutions and highlighted CCCDO’s milestone as proof that international impact is no longer reserved for long-established universities. “This is the future of Philippine higher education—institutions rising, innovating, and creating real impact,” Dr. Agrupis noted. Representing City College at the event, President Dr. Jestoni P. Babia shared this reflection, “It’s not about how young or old your institution is to be globally ranked. It’s about the shared vision and community transformation that build rankings—not for prestige, but for people.”
Under Dr. Babia’s visionary leadership, CCCDO has remained rooted in its core purpose: to uplift marginalized sectors, fight poverty through education, and champion inclusive development at the grassroots level. From offering tuition-free college education to underserved youth, to aligning its programs with the SDGs, CCCDO has proven that small institutions with big purpose can lead globally. Moreover, CHED confirms what the City College community has long believed that genuine transformation doesn’t require age, but purpose.
From the heart of Cagayan de Oro to the global stage, CCCDO continues to shine—loud, proud, and purpose-driven.