The Times Higher Education (THE) has published the eighth edition of its Sustainability Impact Ratings, showing how universities worldwide are aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Participation drops but geographic spread widens
The latest ratings cover 1,603 institutions, a drop of 715 from the 2025 edition. The decline follows THE’s shift to a fee‑for‑service membership model, which has reduced overall participation. Still, the figure exceeds the 1,591 institutions ranked in 2023 and the 462 in the inaugural 2019 edition.
High‑income economies are less represented this year—491 institutions versus 819 in 2025, making up 30.6% of the total. Middle‑income countries now account for 67.6%, up from 63.2% in 2025. Low‑income participation sits at 1.7% (28 universities). Asian institutions crossed the 50% threshold for the first time, reaching 56.3% of the pool, while Europe and North America fell to 24.8%.
Related: Trump’s HE policies hamper economic growth
Data collection is improving worldwide.
Among the top 100, 51 institutions are from Asia, up from 18 in 2022. Extending to the top 200, Asian representation climbs to 142, compared with 65 three years ago. This shift reflects growing capacity and research expertise in the region.
Top‑ranked universities and notable movers
England’s University of Manchester reclaims the global number‑one spot after three years at second place. Australia’s Griffith University leaps to second, a rise from fourth‑equal last year and 72nd in 2023. Western Sydney University, which held the top position for four straight years, drops to third, followed by Canada’s Queen’s University in fourth and Universiti Sains Malaysia in fifth.
Korea’s Hanyang University climbs to sixth, up 38 places, while Japan’s Hokkaido University and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia share seventh, each making significant gains. France’s Institut Agro lands at ninth, and both National Taiwan University and Canada’s University of Alberta sit at tenth.
Related: The Transformative Power of Early Childhood Education: Building a Brighter Future
Several universities moved up 20 spots or more, including Chulalongkorn University, Lovely Professional University, Northumbria University, and Queen’s University Belfast. The list also features institutions from Indonesia, Thailand, and Saudi Arabia, highlighting a broader geographic diversity among high performers.
Country‑by‑country, Australia dominates the top‑50 with eight entries, followed by South Korea (seven), Canada and the United Kingdom (five each), Malaysia and Thailand (four each), and Indonesia (two). In total, 21 countries have institutions in the global top‑50, with another seven entering the top‑100.
THE’s data‑driven approach encourages universities to refine their sustainability strategies annually, akin to a mini‑ERA exercise. Institutions that excel often become exemplars for specific SDG metrics, such as RMIT’s disability support services (SDG 10) or the University of Sheffield’s waste‑policy evidence (SDG 12).
While the rankings spotlight best practices, they also reveal uneven emphasis on certain SDGs. Globally, SDG 3 (Good health and well‑being) and SDG 8 (Decent work and economic growth) are the most reported, whereas SDG 14 (Life below water) and SDG 15 (Life on land) see the fewest submissions. Lower‑middle‑income economies prioritize health and clean energy, reflecting local development priorities.
Related: Building a company in China
These patterns suggest that universities tailor their reporting to align with institutional missions and the likelihood of scoring well, rather than uniformly addressing all goals.
The Sustainability Impact Ratings are slated to continue through 2030, pending UN decisions on the post‑2030 SDG framework. Feedback from participating institutions shows mixed feelings about the ranking format, but THE argues that the current system still provides valuable comparative insight.
The latest edition marks a shift toward broader participation from emerging regions, even as traditional powerhouses maintain strong showings. The evolving environment points to a more competitive and diversified future for university sustainability assessment.
