Sydney shifts position in global impact rankings
The University has shifted position in the Times Higher Education Impact rankings which measure an institution's research, stewardship, outreach and teaching against UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The University was one of 450 institutions across 76 countries worldwide to participate in the inaugural impact rankings in 2019, ranking 25th in the world. For the last two years the University ranked second in the world before this year placing 52nd out of 1406 institutions.
measure聽how聽an institution鈥檚聽research, stewardship, outreach and teaching delivers聽against聽the聽聽鈥撀燼聽blueprint to achieving a better and more sustainable future for all.
The 17 goals encompass strategies to improve health and education, improve聽inequality, and spur economic growth, while tackling climate change and preserving our natural environment.聽聽
It is encouraging to see more institutions taking part in the rankings which demonstrates how the university sector is committed to achieving a sustainable future.
鈥淎s with some other institutions who chose to participate from the start we have seen a change in our position despite only minor shifts in our scores. We look forward to continuing to engage in this ranking and striving for excellence, as we learn from the approach of other institutions,鈥� said Professor Kathy Belov, Interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research).
鈥淚t is encouraging to see more institutions taking part in the rankings which demonstrates how the university sector is committed to achieving a sustainable future. While rankings can鈥檛 capture every possible factor they are an important tool in helping us understand how our efforts are perceived globally.鈥�
All institutions must submit for SDG 17 which explores how universities teach the next generation to adopt sustainability, and three other SDGs of their choice. The University of Sydney submitted for 10 other SDGs in addition to SDG 17 and experienced a six percent drop in its overall score. We had six out of our 11 SDGs rated in the top 50 in the world.
The University continued to perform best in:
- 聽Ensuring access to water and sanitation for all.聽The University ranked 17th聽out of 634 globally.
We are part of a joint initiative which is using innovative technology to聽enhance knowledge of water movement in NSW. 高清福利片ers are also looking at聽water governance in the Murray-Darling Basin, where there are risks that ongoing climate change will significantly reduce water availability and jeopardise the ecosystem.
- 聽Making cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.聽The University ranked 13th聽out of 783 globally.
The Sydney Policy Lab looks at聽Sydney鈥檚 housing problem and the pressures of affordability聽putting people at risk; the聽Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies聽are leading research to transition Australia鈥檚 transport industry towards a green future; Sydney Environment Institute researchers have turned their attention to聽.
- 聽Sustainably managing forests, combating desertification, halting and reversing land degradation, halting biodiversity loss.聽The University ranked 14th聽out of 521 globally.
Sydney researchers were the first to sequence the聽koala听补苍诲听echidna聽genomes, informing conservation efforts, from diet to genetic diversity. A team of researchers from the Sydney Environment Institute are undertaking research on聽. Our soil scientists are exploring how soil can be a sustainable and potentially聽powerful tool to combat the effects of global warming.
罢丑别听University鈥檚 sustainability targets听颈苍肠濒耻诲别:
- net zero emissions by 2030
- zero waste to landfill by 2030
- 30 percent reduction on potable water use by 2030
- minimum five-star Green Star rating for new buildings, and four-star Green Star rating for all complete building refurbishments
- introduction of sustainable procurement practices to reduce waste and increase social sustainability.