This university was crowned the world’s best in THE University Impact Rankings 2019

05 Apr 2019

University excellence can be measured in many ways, among them is their ability to deliver the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), or as described by the UN, “the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all”.

As everyone has a role to play in helping to achieve these SDGs, including universities, Times Higher Education (THE) has recently unveiled the inaugural University Impact Rankings 2019, a global university ranking that assesses universities against the SDGs. THE notes that the ranking “looks at the broader ways in which universities support the SDGs through collaboration with other countries, the promotion of best practices and the publication of data.”

This was done by calibrating indicators to provide comprehensive and balanced comparisons across three broad areas: research, outreach and stewardship.

The University of Auckland has been ranked Number 1 in the world in the inaugural @THEworldunirank Impact Rankings: https://t.co/hjkTU6gFvy #THEglobalimpact #THEunirankings pic.twitter.com/VncbC6gVuT

— The University of Auckland (@AucklandUni) April 3, 2019

The University of Auckland in New Zealand was crowned champion, while Canada has the highest number of universities represented within the top 10. Japan is the most-represented nation in the table with 41 institutions, followed by the US with 31 and Russia with 30. THE’s first edition includes over 450 universities from 76 countries.

Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings 2019: Top 10

Institution	Country	University Impact 2019 Rank	World University Rankings 2019
University of Auckland	New Zealand	1	201-250
McMaster University	Canada	2	77
University of British Columbia	Canada	=3	37
University of Manchester	United Kingdom	=3	57
King’s College London	United Kingdom	5	38
University of Gothenburg	Sweden	6	201-250
KTH Royal Institute of Technology	Sweden	=7	187
University of Montreal	Canada	=7	90
University of Bologna	Italy	9	180
University of Hong Kong	Hong Kong	10	36

Speaking to THE, University of Auckland Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stuart McCutcheon, said the university benefits from the country having “‘a long history of making significant contributions to society’, referencing the country being the first to enfranchise women 125 years ago” as an example.

Which universities are making the most positive impact on society? My analysis on @THEworldunirank‘s pioneering new University Impact Rankings, which are based on the @UN #SDGs https://t.co/GFn6q7EAU8 #THEglobalimpact #THEunirankings pic.twitter.com/zlsrqUJbnZ

— Ellie Bothwell (@elliebothwell) April 4, 2019

McCutcheon added that Auckland is the most ethnically-diverse city in the country, and that “the awareness of diversity and the desire to support people from a great diversity of backgrounds is part of our natural environment”.

“A lot of what we’ve done predated the adoption by the UN of the SDGs. But the SDGs give us a kind of framework for thinking about what we’ve been doing and for thinking about where there might be gaps.”

Meanwhile, KTH Royal Institute of Technology Vice-President for Sustainable Development, and Professor of Environmental Strategic Analysis, Göran Finnveden, opined on THE that for the university to be credible in both education and research, they must walk the walk and talk the talk on all things sustainable development.

He added that sustainable development should be integrated into all educational programmes at all levels to ensure graduates can contribute to sustainable social development. It should also be integrated into everyday decisions, programmes and plans at the university, but notes that specialised knowledge in education and research as well as in administration is needed.