Latest news with #ImpactRankings
Zawya
10-07-2025
- General
- Zawya
Ajman University ranks first in the UAE for 'Partnerships for the Goals' and 'Good Health and Wellbeing'
Ajman University has achieved a new global milestone by ranking in the 301–400 band in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025, which assess how universities contribute to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This prestigious and trusted international ranking includes 2,526 universities from 130 countries worldwide. At the national level, Ajman University made notable progress, rising to 4th place in the UAE, moving up three positions from its 2024 ranking. The University delivered an exceptional performance across several SDGs. It ranked #16 globally and #1 in the UAE for SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – the only mandatory SDG for all participating institutions in the Impact Rankings. This goal requires universities to submit a comprehensive report demonstrating their contributions to all SDGs. Ajman University also advanced from the Top 400 to the Top 200 globally in SDG 3: Good Health and Wellbeing, securing the 1st position nationally. Additionally, the University maintained its position in the Top 200 globally for SDG 13: Climate Action, continuing to lead among UAE universities in this area. Dr. Karim Seghir, Chancellor of Ajman University, expressed his pride in this achievement, emphasizing that the University's progress reflects its ongoing commitment to sustainable development and its role as a non-profit institution that actively contributes to the community and drives positive change locally and globally. He noted that the University continues to advance through impactful initiatives such as the Mobile Dental Clinic and the Mangrove Planting Project, alongside a wide range of faculty-led research and institution-wide efforts aligned with the sustainability agenda. These endeavors reflect AU's dedication to balancing academic excellence with meaningful societal engagement. This achievement marks another step forward in AU's pursuit of global prominence and reflects its vision of building an educational model rooted in innovation, social responsibility, and a strong contribution to a more sustainable and inclusive future. About Ajman University Established in 1988 as the first private university in the GCC, Ajman University (AU) is a non-profit institution committed to delivering world-class education and empowering future leaders. With a strong emphasis on academic excellence, global engagement, and societal impact, AU continues to shape a diverse and inclusive learning environment that nurtures innovation and integrity. Ajman University earned full accreditation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) in 2024, becoming the first private and non-profit university in the UAE and the Arab world to achieve this prestigious distinction. In the 2026 QS World University Rankings, AU ranks #440 globally and #6 in the UAE, with a global ranking of #241 for Employer Reputation and #3 in the UAE. AU also holds the #1 position in the UAE and #4 globally for the percentage of international students. With a growing network of over 40,000 alumni across the world, AU continues to prepare graduates who are career-ready, globally aware, and committed to shaping a better future for their communities and beyond. For more information, please visit
The Star
21-06-2025
- Science
- The Star
Asian universities show strong gains in global impact ranking - 22 in this region are among the Top 50 in the world
HANOI (Vietnam News/ANN): A total of 22 Asian universities ranked in the top 50 overall of the latest Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, up from 12 last year. Asian institutions now lead ten out of 17 individual Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) rankings, doubling from the previous year, while a South Korean and an Indonesian university entered the overall top 10. The THE Impact Rankings evaluate universities based on the United Nations' SDGs. These 17 goals include no poverty; zero hunger; good health and well-being; quality education; gender equality; clean water and sanitation; affordable and clean energy; decent work and economic growth; industry innovation and infrastructure; reduced inequalities; sustainable cities and communities; responsible consumption and production; climate action; life below water; life on land; peace, justice and strong institutions; and partnerships for goals. A university's final score is calculated by combining its score in SDG 17 with its top three scores from the remaining 16 SDGs. This means universities are scored based on different SDGs, depending on their focus. Points for each SDG are determined by factors including research, stewardship, outreach, and teaching. South Korea's Kyungpook National University (KNU) ranked third overall, climbing significantly from joint 39th last year, thanks to notable efforts in supporting low-income students, contributing to its strong performance in "no poverty." Indonesia's Universitas Airlangga also advanced significantly, placing joint ninth after focusing on "sustainable cities and communities" through initiatives such as public green spaces and free e-bikes. Overall, Asian universities occupied 22 of the top 50 spots, an increase from 12 last year, surpassing 11 from Australasia, nine from Europe, eight from North America, and one from Africa. Other high-ranking Asian institutions included South Korea's Pusan National University (13th), National Taiwan University (NTU) and Universiti Sains Malaysia (joint 14th), and South Korea's Kyung Hee University alongside Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (joint 19th). These schools were recognized for their significant progress in sustainability initiatives, according to THE. The improved performance in East and Southeast Asia corresponds with increased participation. Asia has consistently been the most represented continent in the Impact Rankings since their inception in 2019, but this year, for the first time, Asian universities comprise the majority (52%) of all ranked institutions, up from 49% last year and 42% in 2020. In individual SDG rankings, Asian universities lead in 10 categories, including no poverty (Universiti Sains Malaysia), quality education (Lingnan University Hong Kong), gender equality (Walailak University, Thailand), clean water and sanitation (Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia), decent work and economic growth (Korea University, South Korea), industry innovation and infrastructure (Hanyang University and Yonsei University, South Korea), and partnerships for the goals (Universiti Sains Malaysia and University of Malaya, Malaysia). Futao Huang, a professor at Hiroshima University's Research Institute for Higher Education, said these strengths align closely with expectations for the region. "These reflect long-standing national and institutional priorities focused on poverty alleviation, education access and economic development – areas where many Asian universities have actively aligned their missions and strategies," Huang told THE. He added that the notable improvement in "partnerships for the goals," jointly led by two Malaysian universities and featuring three other Asian institutions in the top 10, highlights the region's "growing commitment to global collaboration and cross-sector engagement, supported by policy encouragement and improved data reporting capacity." Institutions from the US, UK, Canada, and Australia led fewer SDG tables this year, dropping from 11 last year to seven. Experts suggest this may reflect either the mainstreaming of SDG efforts or reduced political support for sustainability initiatives in these regions. Western Sydney University in Australia remained first overall for the fourth consecutive year, followed by the University of Manchester (U.K.), while Griffith University and the University of Tasmania (both in Australia) tied for fourth place. The 2025 THE Impact Rankings saw participation from 2,526 universities across 130 countries. - Vietnam News/ANN
Business Upturn
19-06-2025
- General
- Business Upturn
Western Sydney Beats the World Four Years in a Row for Community Impact
New Delhi, Delhi, India: For an unprecedented fourth year in a row, Western Sydney University has emerged as the world's number one university for community impact awarded by the prestigious Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings. The University outranked 2,300 international universities in the evaluation process. The University's deep-rooted commitment to improve lives and safeguard the planet through local and global initiatives is gaining huge recognition across markets. Spotlighting India's MARVI (Managing Aquifer Recharge and Sustaining Groundwater Use through Village-level Intervention) project – a collaboration between the University and its valued partners, the transformative community-led program has been commendable. The mission works on improving the security of irrigation water supplies and enhancing livelihood opportunities for rural communities. The project has reached over 3 lakh households in over 20,000 Indian villages across seven states in India. The University is also actively involved in educating and training NGOs, government agencies, and Indian water professionals working directly on the ground, as part of our commitment to delivering world-class education and supporting the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). According to the Vice-Chancellor and President, Distinguished Professor George Williams AO, 'Our University is youthful, diverse, dynamic and entrepreneurial. We reflect our community locally and globally, and we are part of it. These rankings recognise the work we are doing together to take Western Sydney – and our wider global partnerships – to the next level. We can all be proud of this result. Our mission is to ensure our students are successful, our teaching and research have impact, and we are contributing to stronger communities.' Highlighting the University's impactful work in India, Chancellor Professor Jennifer Westacott AC, said, 'By training local women as Bhujal Jaankars – ground water informed volunteers – and promoting female leadership in village cooperatives, MARVI is helping communities make informed choices about which crops to plant based on the availability of water. As one of our flagship community-led projects in the region, Western Sydney University is deeply invested in this project. We are also committed to delivering world-class education that aligns with India's skill needs.' Sharing his perspective on this landmark achievement, Professor Williams says, 'Western Sydney University is showing the world the way. Universities around the world are being urged to return to their primary role as public sector organisations delivering public good. The Impact Rankings recognise that Western Sydney University is the world's best at delivering public good in the communities we serve. It's in our DNA.' Western Sydney University works in partnership with communities in Western Sydney and globally including in India and its offshore locations in Indonesia and Vietnam to deliver on its commitment to the 17 United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The rankings assess what universities are doing to improve lives based on the SDGs and assess our research, teaching, campus operations, policies and community engagement and outreach. These include climate action, gender equality, ending poverty, providing affordable and clean energy, reducing inequality, industry innovation and producing sustainable cities and communities. In addition to the overall world number one ranking, the University was highly ranked in the following categories: 4th in the world for SDG 15 Life on Land 7th in the world for SDG 5 Gender Equality 8th in the world for SDG 13 Climate Action and SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production 9th in the world for SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals, SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation and SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities 10th in the world for SDG 14 Life Below Water and SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy The Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings assess universities based on their contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, highlighting their real-world social and environmental impact. Unlike traditional rankings, they recognise institutions for driving positive change in areas like health, education, and climate action. About Western Sydney University Advertisement Western Sydney University prides itself on challenging the traditional notion of what a university should be. We put students at the heart of everything we do. Embedded in the communities and region we serve, our university is fundamental to the economic, cultural and social life of Western Sydney – one of the fastest-growing, most economically important and most culturally-diverse regions within Australia. We have a network of sites and teaching campuses across Western Sydney and beyond. Western Sydney University has 50,000 students, 3,000 staff, and over 1300 International Indian students, and a strong cohort – both locally and globally – of more than 200,000 alumni. The University has a long and proud history of increasing higher education participation and opening educational opportunities to students who have the drive, ambition and dedication to succeed, particularly for individuals from diverse and lower socio-economic backgrounds. At the forefront of education innovation, our programs are designed to help address Australia's current and future workforce needs, with our expanding short courses and micro credential offerings helping people rapidly upskill or reskill in their careers and stay competitive in a fast-changing workplace. The University has been named number one in the world for its social, ecological and economic impact in the Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings four years in a row. We are globally focused, research led and committed to making a positive impact on the communities we engage with. Click here for Media Contact Details Submit your press release Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with Business Wire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same.
Hans India
19-06-2025
- General
- Hans India
Western Sydney beats the world four years in a row for community impact
Bengaluru: For an unprecedented fourth year in a row, Western Sydney University has emerged as the world's number one university for community impact awarded by the prestigious Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings. The University outranked 2,300 international universities in the evaluation process. The University's deep-rooted commitment to improve lives and safeguard the planet through local and global initiatives is gaining huge recognition across markets. Spotlighting India's MARVI (Managing Aquifer Recharge and Sustaining Groundwater Use through Village-level Intervention) project – a collaboration between the University and its valued partners, the transformative community-led program has been commendable. The mission works on improving the security of irrigation water supplies and enhancing livelihood opportunities for rural communities. The project has reached over 3 lakh households in over 20,000 Indian villages across seven states in India. Farmers in Rajasthan's Dharta watershed discuss their Village Groundwater Cooperative, a pioneering initiative for shared groundwater management. Developed by the MARVI project, it empowers communities to implement "4S" strategies: Scrutiny, Store, Share, and Sustain groundwater at the village level. This collaborative model is being considered for broader adoption across India and Southeast Asia for water security. Photo Credit: Distinguished Professor Basant Maheshwari The University is also actively involved in educating and training NGOs, government agencies, and Indian water professionals working directly on the ground, as part of our commitment to delivering world-class education and supporting the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). According to the Vice-Chancellor and President, Distinguished Professor George Williams AO, 'Our University is youthful, diverse, dynamic and entrepreneurial. We reflect our community locally and globally, and we are part of it. These rankings recognise the work we are doing together to take Western Sydney – and our wider global partnerships – to the next level. We can all be proud of this result. Our mission is to ensure our students are successful, our teaching and research have impact, and we are contributing to stronger communities.'' Highlighting the University's impactful work in India, Chancellor Professor Jennifer Westacott AC, said, 'By training local women as Bhujal Jaankars – ground water informed volunteers – and promoting female leadership in village cooperatives, MARVI is helping communities make informed choices about which crops to plant based on the availability of water. As one of our flagship community-led projects in the region, Western Sydney University is deeply invested in this project. We are also committed to delivering world-class education that aligns with India's skill needs.' Sharing his perspective on this landmark achievement, Professor Williams says, 'Western Sydney University is showing the world the way. Universities around the world are being urged to return to their primary role as public sector organisations delivering public good. The Impact Rankings recognise that Western Sydney University is the world's best at delivering public good in the communities we serve. It's in our DNA.' Western Sydney University works in partnership with communities in Western Sydney and globally including in India and its offshore locations in Indonesia and Vietnam to deliver on its commitment to the 17 United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The rankings assess what universities are doing to improve lives based on the SDGs and assess our research, teaching, campus operations, policies and community engagement and outreach. These include climate action, gender equality, ending poverty, providing affordable and clean energy, reducing inequality, industry innovation and producing sustainable cities and communities. In addition to the overall world number one ranking, the University was highly ranked in the following categories: . 4th in the world for SDG 15 Life on Land . 7th in the world for SDG 5 Gender Equality . 8th in the world for SDG 13 Climate Action and SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production . 9th in the world for SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals, SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation and SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities. .10th in the world for SDG 14 Life Below Water and SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy The Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings assess universities based on their contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, highlighting their real-world social and environmental impact. Unlike traditional rankings, they recognise institutions for driving positive change in areas like health, education, and climate action.
18-06-2025
- Science
How do you make a campus more sustainable? These universities did it with GoPros and selling leftovers
Using GoPros to monitor tree seedlings and tackling campus food insecurity through leftovers are among the initiatives that helped propel two Canadian universities into the top 10 in a U.K. ranking of efforts at post-secondary schools worldwide to meet United Nations goals for a sustainable planet. Queen's University in Kingston, Ont., and the University of Alberta are among the top 10 institutions in the world when it comes to advancing UN goals such as ending poverty and protecting the planet, according to Times Higher Education's 2025 Impact Rankings. The 17 sustainable development goals, established by the UN in 2015 as a call to action to tackle pervasive global issues and ensure prosperity across the globe, range from ending world hunger to taking climate action and ensuring access to health and education. The goals were unanimously adopted by member countries at the time, but the UN warned last year that less than one-fifth of the targets are on track to be achieved by the deadline in 2030. Times Higher Education's Impact Rankings is the only ranking system that looks at how universities are helping to address these UN goals through research and education, as well as campus and community programs, according to the publication. Universities are actually uniquely positioned to help solve the sustainable development goals, Ellie Bothwell, rankings editor at Times Higher Education, told CBC News. Enlarge image (new window) This United Nations infographic shows the 17 sustainable development goals established in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Photo: United Nations Not only can they drive research efforts to find solutions and teach the next generation of problem-solvers, she said, but universities also collaborate heavily with surrounding communities locally, nationally and on campus. They're sort of mini-cities in a way themselves. The rankings (new window) , released Tuesday, assessed more than 2,500 universities from 130 countries and territories for their sustainability progress, including 24 from Canada. Queen's University was the highest-scoring Canadian university, tying for sixth place overall with Arizona State University. Programs reducing food waste and insecurity on campus and research into green supercomputers and lowering emissions are among the factors keeping them ahead of the pack, Queen's says. The University of Alberta also made it to the top 10, at eighth place. Seven Canadian universities were ranked in the global top 50, the most for any country after Australia, which netted nine. Canadian universities perform really strongly, Bothwell said. Lots of [Canadian universities] were among the first to sort of commit to be carbon neutral or to publish really quite detailed sustainability reports on their own emissions. So, yeah, we see Canada among those leading the way on this. A Queen's University student conducts field work at the Queen's University Biological Station, where students learn about ecology first-hand. Photo: Queen's University To be included in the rankings, which have been conducted since 2019, universities submit data each year on their progress toward the goals. Their progress in advancing a specific goal, such as ending poverty, for example, is scored using factors such as the number of research publications universities put out on that topic, courses and campus programs addressing it, and partnerships with governments, non-governmental organizations and other post-secondary institutions. Canadian universities scored high in several individual categories. The University of Alberta was ranked first in the industry, innovation and infrastructure goal along with 11 other universities, while the University of Victoria came in second for advancing sustainable cities and communities. How Canadian universities are pursuing sustainability At Queen's University, the goals are considered in every department, said principal and vice-chancellor Patrick Deane. Whatever we do here needs to be green. It needs to be properly responsive to the sustainable goals, he told CBC News. [It's] critically important for the health of societies, the health of individuals and the health of the planet that we make progress on all of these. So it's a matter of urgency. Queen's University is the only Canadian institution to have been in the top 10 of the rankings for five years straight, and jumped two places this year compared to last year's ranking. It's a vindication for the work it has been doing, Deane said. Enlarge image (new window) Queen's University has run the PEACH Market since 2022, one of several campus initiatives aimed at reducing food waste and making healthy food more accessible to the community. It works by repurposing leftovers to sell to the community on a sliding scale pricing model. Photo: Queen's University In the individual goals, Queen's University was ranked second in two: peace, justice and strong institutions; and furthering sustainable oceans. Queen's came first globally for addressing the goal of zero hunger. One of the programs highlighting the university's commitment to addressing food insecurity, according to Deane, is its Providing Equal Access, Changing Hunger (PEACH) Market, started in 2022, where leftover food from Queen's hospitality services is then sold on a pay-what-you-can model. Queen's is also developing a software-automated aeroponic vertical farm, a type of farming that uses less land and water. Deane said that as researchers look to expand supercomputing and artificial intelligence capacity in Canada, Queen's is also working on more environmentally friendly and efficient supercomputers to cut the ecological cost of energy-hungry AI. The rankings have made the university much more deliberate about this work, he said. And I think that's what's required if we're going to get where we need to be on these goals. St. Joseph's College on the University of Alberta campus is shown here in August 2019 in Edmonton. U of A is one of two Canadian universities ranked in the top 10 globally for its work advancing the UN sustainable development goals. Photo: CBC / Codie McLachlan At the University of Alberta, graduate student Sarun Khadka found that GoPros could monitor tree seedlings as accurately as humans, potentially making monitoring more efficient and accessible, a spokesperson told CBC News. Other examples of how the university is addressing the sustainability goals include a new course to help future urban planners find practical tools for climate adaptation and a new interdisciplinary research centre focused on water safety. Universities in Asia saw advances in sustainable development in the latest ranking, Bothwell said, with a university from South Korea (Kyungpook National University) and one from Indonesia (Universitas Airlangga) entering the top 10 for the first time. U.S. has 1 university in top 50 Asian universities now lead 10 out of the 17 individual ... rankings, up from five last year, Bothwell said. That's something that's been really pleasing to see. The U.S., despite being known as a research powerhouse, had only one university in the global top 50, compared to three in last year's ranking. It's striking that there are relatively low numbers of U.S. universities, given the size of the sector, Bothwell said. The U.S. formally withdrew its support of the goals earlier this year, with Edward Heartney, a minister-counsellor at the U.S. mission to the United Nations, stating at a March meeting of the General Assembly that the U.S. rejects and denounces the shared UN goals. Enlarge image (new window) The campus of Queen's University is seen from above in this panorama. Photo: Queen's University With global progress toward the goals already slowed by widespread disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic and global conflicts, and the United Nations warning that progress on more than one-third of the goals had "stalled or regressed (new window) " as of 2024, it's an uphill battle, but one Bothwell says post-secondary institutions are still fighting. There is certainly skepticism about whether nations will be able to reach the goals, Bothwell said. I would say though that I think that universities are showing amazing resilience and momentum and continuing to make an impact, striving to keep progress going even when maybe nationally the governments aren't focusing as much on this as they could. Alexandra Mae Jones (new window) · CBC News Alexandra Mae Jones is a senior writer for CBC News based in Toronto. She has written on a variety of topics, from health to pop culture to breaking news, and previously reported for CTV News and the Toronto Star. She joined CBC in 2024. You can reach her at
