News

SLU improves global sustainability ranking among higher education institutions

Published: 02 June 2023

SLU is climbing in rankings, making the top 201–300 of the 1,591 higher education institutions evaluated in The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2023. For goal 2, Zero Hunger, SLU is ranked 13th.

SLU has also advanced its position for goal 13, Climate Action, and now ranks as 29th best. For goal 14, Life below Water, SLU is ranked the 39th best university.

The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings is the only international ranking that evaluates higher education institutions according to how well they are meeting the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of Agenda 2030. Despite the greater competition, SLU has improved it's overall ranking as well as several individual goal rankings this year.

Our scientific publications have contributed significantly to the improved ranking scores.

“I am pleased to see that SLU maintains its high ranking and has also improved in terms of our scientific contribution. We primarily use the ranking as a way to highlight our work with sustainability and Agenda 2030. We also learn from and are inspired by how other universities approach these issues”, says Ylva Hillbur, SLU’s pro vice-chancellor for international relations.

The highest individual ranking for SLU is for goal 2, Zero Hunger.

“SLU's researchers have unique expertise in sustainable food production and consumption. The fact that SLU is climbing in the rankings demonstrates that the knowledge we produce can make a difference”, says Annsofie Wahlström, programme manager for SLU Future Food.

On 14 November, SLU staff and students will meet for a broader discussion on what progress has been made toward reaching the SDGs and how we can contribute in the future.

Facts:

The 2023 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings were the fifth to be carried out, covering a total of 1591 higher education institutions from 112 countries/regions.

For each sustainable development goal, several criteria have been defined. Higher education institutions are awarded points based on the documentation they submit, showing the extent to which they have fulfilled those criteria.

SLU is taking part for the second time and our Environment Unit coordinated the reporting. This time, SLU chose eight of the goals for assessment. An institution’s total rank is based on its three best goals and goal 17, Partnerships for the Goals.

SLU’s 2023 results for the individual SDGs:

  • Zero Hunger (goal 2), ranked 13.
  • Gender Equality (goal 5), ranked 101–200.
  • Affordable and Clean Energy (goal 7), ranked 201–300.
  • Responsible Consumption and Production (goal 12), ranked 91.
  • Climate Action (goal 13), ranked 29.
  • Life Below Water (goal 14), ranked 39.
  • Life on Land (goal 15), ranked 100.
  • Partnerships for the Goals (goal 17), ranked 301–400.

Of the Swedish higher education institutions included in this year’s ranking, SLU ranked 2nd, after the KTH Royal Institute of Technology. For goal 13, Climate Action, SLU is the top ranked university in Sweden.

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