Strathclyde is one of the world’s leading universities for addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), according to the Times Higher Education (THE).
THE’s Impact Rankings 2023 places Strathclyde at joint 36th in the world out of 1,591 universities, and joint 6thin the UK.
The rankings, now in their fifth year, are the first and only global performance tables that assess universities against the SDGs and focus on the dual issues of protecting the environment and addressing inequality through sustainable development.
Institutions submit data towards one compulsory category – SDG 17 Partnership for the Goals – and at least three further categories; Strathclyde submitted results for all 17 SDGs.
An institution’s overall ranking in the table is determined by the combined score of its three best-performing SDGs and the compulsory category, which for Strathclyde were:
- SDG 17 Partnership for the Goals – 8th out of 1,625 institutions
- SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – 9th out of 910
- SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production – 14th out of 674
- SDG 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure – joint 31st out of 873
Strathclyde garnered a total of 92.5 points out of 100, with this improved position set against a substantial increase in the number of participating institutions.
Positive difference
Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, said: “As a leading international technological University that is committed to being socially progressive, our vision is to make a positive difference to the lives of our students, to society and to the world.
“We already put the UN Sustainable Development Goals at the heart of much of our teaching and our research – this will grow further as we develop our Strathclyde 2030 strategy – and as a signatory to the SDG Accord we are committed to delivering and contributing to them.
These rankings demonstrate that, through our wide ranging research activities and our focus on education for sustainable development, we are putting our words into action.
Other highlights for Strathclyde across the SDGs include:
- SDG 14 Life Below Water – 38th out of 504 institutions
- SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities – joint 45th out of 901
- SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities – 47th out of 860
- SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation – 59th out of 702
The SDGs, adopted by the UN in 2015, provide a framework for developing the world in a sustainable way and seek to address: ending poverty and hunger; promoting good health and wellbeing; quality education; achieving gender equality; economic growth; providing access to clean water and sanitation; affordable and clean energy; and, tackling climate change.
Strategic approach
Sustainability sits at the heart of Strathclyde’s Strategic Plan, Vision 2025, and makes a clear commitment to deliver against the SDGs across all areas of activity, including research, teaching and operational matters.
The University’s Centre for Sustainable Development, launched in 2020, serves to bring all of Strathclyde’s education, research and knowledge exchange activity on sustainable development within a single strategic approach and helps to support cross institutional collaboration.
The Centre prioritises education and awareness-raising of sustainable development, as well as applying and building expertise and research capacity in sustainability. It also grows international partnership working and contributes to and benefits from knowledge sharing and thought leadership.