The ranking aims to measure the progress of universities worldwide, specifically in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda.
For the third consecutive year, Times Higher Education (THE) released the results of its Impact Rankings, which assess the performance of universities worldwide in areas related to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by UN member states.
This third edition marks the first time has Universidad ORT Uruguay has . Among 1,155 universities, it ranked between 401st and 600th in the global ranking and performed exceptionally well, at the disaggregated level, in each of the four SDGs in which it participated: “Quality Education,” “Responsible Consumption and Production,” “Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions,” and “Partnerships for the Goals.”
In SDG 4, “Quality Education,” ORT ranked in the top 30% of universities worldwide, placing between 201st and 300th out of 966. This is due not only to ORT’s contributions to educational research, but also to its organization of events and the integration of topics related to sustainable development into course curricula.
For SDG 12, “Responsible Consumption and Production,” ORT ranked between 101st and 200th out of a total of 503 universities that submitted data in this area. The #ORTrecicla campaign played a key role, as it has not only led to a reduction and recycling of the amounts of paper and plastic used at the university, but also works within its value chain to encourage the adoption of sustainable practices.
For both SDG 16, “Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions,” and SDG 17, “Partnerships for the Goals,” ORT ranked in the top third of universities worldwide. This highlights the university’s collaboration and dialogue with various stakeholders in society (the public and private sectors, and NGOs), as well as the integration of sustainability into its governance.
According to ORT professor Dr. Nicolás Gambetta—who compiled data on the university’s performance regarding the SDGs—THE Impact Rankings were created to demonstrate how universities incorporate the UN’s SDGs into their operations, with the aim of ensuring that their degree programs and graduates generate social, environmental, and economic impact in the community.
“Unlike other organizations, universities generate very significant positive externalities, precisely because their role is to train professionals who will serve as leaders in the process of transforming organizations and society,” Gambetta noted.
"The influence a university has on society regarding sustainability issues likely exceeds that of any other organization, as it exerts that influence through education, research, and community engagement. That is why this ranking is so important," he concluded.