THE Impact Rankings 2023: Celebrating Universities' Commitment to Sustainability and UN SDGs
On June 1, 2023, the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings were released, recognizing universities' significant contributions to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This comprehensive evaluation measures institutions' dedication to sustainability across four key areas: research, stewardship, outreach, and teaching. The 2023 rankings saw an unprecedented participation of 1,705 universities from 115 countries and regions, reflecting the global collective push for a more sustainable future.
Overview of the THE Impact Rankings methodology
The Impact Rankings are the first global attempt to measure university progress specifically around SDGs. The aspiration is for the Impact Rankings to serve as a catalyst for action, a means of holding universities accountable, and an opportunity for universities to highlight the exceptional work that they are already doing.
Inclusion in the overall ranking is granted to universities that provide data on SDG 17 – partnerships for the goals – and at least three other SDGs. Each university's total score is calculated by combining its score in SDG 17 with its top three scores from the remaining SDGs. The overall ranking score represents an average of the institution's total scores from the past two years.
Learn more about the THE Impact Rankings methodology here.
The bibliometrics used in the THE Impact Rankings
The Impact Rankings use bibliometrics, based on Publication and Citation data from Scopus, to contribute to 27% of the individual SDG scores and around 7% of the overall ranking score. Elsevier collaborated with the research community to create the latest SDG mapping, resulting in the capture of twice as many publications as before. Leveraging machine learning models and updated search queries, the mapping ensures accuracy and inclusivity in the evaluation process. This transparency is further promoted by making the 2023 search query methodology openly accessible in Digital Commons Data.
Celebrating the Top Performers
Among the 1,705 evaluated universities, 18 institutions from 10 countries and regions achieved the esteemed number one position across individual SDGs and the overall category. Australian and Canadian universities stood out with exceptional performances, dominating the top 10 of the overall category.
Western Sydney University from Australia claimed the coveted top spot, showcasing a strong commitment to sustainability in research, stewardship, outreach, and teaching.