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Published: 12 June 2024

University of Surrey in THE Impact Rankings global top 5% for sustainability impact

The University of Surrey has ranked 86th in the world in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2024, which assesses universities around the world for their performance against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This result places Surrey among the top 5% of the nearly 2,000 universities featured in the rankings.

campus photo, very green

The rankings assess each university for its contributions across all 17 of the UN SDGs, calibrating performance across research, stewardship, outreach and teaching. These unique rankings combine analysis of university contributions to sustainability across:

academic contributions to a better world through research and teaching;
the equipping of future generations with sustainability knowledge and skills; and
the operational contributions universities make to sustainability as large businesses and employers, and
the leadership it provides to others as anchor institutions in their communities.

The University of Surrey ranks in the top 100 globally for six of the 17 SDGs:

Clean water and sanitation (SDG 6) – ranked 69
Decent work and economic growth (SDG 8) – ranked 44
Reduced inequalities (SDG 10) – ranked 31
Sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11) – ranked 32
Responsible consumption and production (SDG 12) – ranked 58
Climate action (SDG 13) – ranked 72

To be ranked among the top 5% of universities in the THE Impact Rankings is a source of great pride for our whole University. These rankings, which couldn’t be more important to us, reflect our contribution towards a sustainable future for our planet – across all we do here at the University of Surrey. We have been part of these rankings every year since they launched in 2020. Since then, the number of universities ranked globally has risen from 768 to 1,963, reflecting the growing importance of sustainability to institutions and their stakeholders around the world.

We’re delighted that the number of universities focusing on their position in these rankings keeps on growing – a sustainable future for our planet is a team game. Higher education is at the forefront of research collaborations and practical outcomes to deliver real change. Professor Bob Nichol, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean (FEPS)

Sustainability is at the heart of the Strategy 2041 which we are finalising at the University of Surrey. As proud founding members of the THE Impact Rankings, we are delighted to be ranked in the top 100 for six of the 17 SDGs, reflecting the many areas where our expertise is delivering real and transformational impact for a better, more sustainable future.

This year’s rankings reflect activity in 2021/22, the first full academic year after the pandemic. Since then we have launched our multi-disciplinary, strategic Institute for Sustainability, and put in place plans to accelerate progress on our own campus plans for sustainability. As we move forward with our new strategy, we are committed to delivering positive change to advance sustainability through our own actions and our contributions to transformative research for a better planet. We hope these changes will continue to be reflected in a strong performance in these important rankings.” Professor Lu Max, President and Vice-Chancellor

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Prof Bob Nichol

Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean (FEPS)

Prof Lu Max

President and Vice-Chancellor