Newcastle University has been racked first in the UK for sustainable development in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2022.
Newcastle University’s ongoing work towards the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) has placed them at the top spot in the UK under the ‘sustainable development’ rankings.
What are the Impact Rankings?
The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings assess over 1,500 universities from around the world on action taken towards the UNSDGs. Institutions are evaluated across the areas of research, stewardship, outreach and teaching.
The overall ranking is led by an Australian institution: Western Sydney University and in second place is the US’s Arizona State University and third is Western University in Canada.
No one country actually dominates the top ten, with universities from the UK, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, New Zealand and Japan also featuring.
The top institutions from an emerging economy are King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia and Universiti Sains Malaysia, in joint fourth place.
Newcastle Tops the UK
Newcastle University has been ranked first nationally and also been placed eighth in the world, moving up from its position of third in the UK and 15th in the world in 2021.
Professor Chris Day, Vice-Chancellor and President, Newcastle University, said this year’s rankings are ‘particularly significant’ and a ‘testament’ to the hard work the university has done in this field.
‘We are absolutely delighted to be ranked first in the UK – and eighth in the world – in this year’s Times Higher Education Impact Rankings,’ he said.
‘They represent the very best of what a University can be – working together to respond to urgent global challenges – and our performance today is a testament to the hard work and commitment of all colleagues and students at Newcastle University.
“This year’s rankings are particularly significant. We are increasingly seeing at first hand the positive impact that universities have in their cities and regions and the global significance that can be achieved through strong collaboration with partners.’
Prof Day continued: ‘And as we start to move out of the pandemic and respond to other global challenges, universities will be crucial in building a fairer, stronger and more sustainable future.
‘At Newcastle we have been working hard to embed our commitments to Social and Environmental Justice in everything we do and I am immensely proud of what we have achieved today.’