University College Cork (UCC) has been ranked 8th in the world by the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, placing it as Ireland’s leading university for its impact in working towards creating a sustainable future.
The evidence-based THE Impact Rankings are the only global tables to assess universities against progress towards the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), providing a total of 18 rankings, one for each SDG as well as an overall table.
Over 1,000 universities across the world from 98 countries were analysed in these rankings, which examine universities against their commitment to sustainability at an institutional, local, national, regional and global level.
The teaching, research, public engagement and stewardship of universities are assessed to ascertain their alignment with the global challenges that our world faces.
“We are proud to be in top ten universities in the world that are making an impact towards creating a sustainable future for our planet” commented Professor John O’Halloran, Interim President of UCC.
“Over a decade ago, and together with our students, we set this university on a path that could inspire and lead change. Our teaching, research and public engagement has been assessed as world class and we are proud to be Ireland’s leading university making an impact towards a sustainable world.”
In today’s rankings, UCC was ranked in the Top 20 globally in relation to 7 of the SDGs, among the findings were:
- UCC moved from 32nd place last year to 8th in the world overall in 2021
- UCC finishes in world’s top three for SDG12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG15 (Life on Land)
- Global importance of higher education evident as 24 countries from six continents appear in overall ranking top 100.
