The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, which are based on the United Nations‘ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), are released annually to assess universities‘ contributions to sustainability. In the latest rankings published on June 12, 2024, the University of Szeged (SZTE) secured the 43rd spot in the thematic list for „Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.“ Additionally, the SZTE made significant advancements in several subcategories and improved its overall ranking by reaching the 301-400 range, tying for the top spot in Hungary.
The SZTE consistently achieves outstanding results in the THE Impact Rankings. The evaluation, which considers the economic, social impact, and responsibility of global higher education institutions, was initiated by Times Higher Education in 2019 based on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals outlined by the UN. This year, the SZTE moved up in the international field, surpassing a total of 1963 institutions to claim the 301-400 position, sharing the top spot among 11 Hungarian institutions.
Within the SDG-themed rankings, the University of Szeged excelled by climbing over forty places to secure the 43rd position globally in the „Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions“ category. This achievement marks the highest ranking for a Hungarian institution in THE sustainability lists. The SZTE also showed significant improvements in the „Quality Education“ (SDG 4) and „Reduced Inequalities“ (SDG 10) sub-rankings, while making substantial progress in areas such as „Clean Water and Sanitation“ (SDG 6) and „Sustainable Cities and Communities“ (SDG 11).
In addition to its overall ranking, the University of Szeged leads in 11 SDG categories this year, either securing the top position or sharing it within the Hungarian context. These categories include the eradication of poverty, ending hunger, quality education, reducing inequalities, combating climate change, and affordable and clean energy.
The SZTE is committed to achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The institution not only adapts scientific and technological advancements that promote efficient and sustainable resource utilization but also contributes to the generation of new knowledge through its educational, research, development, innovation, and service activities. The University aims to increase the commitment of future generations to preserving environmental, social, and cultural values. Initiatives such as cooperative courses on sustainability, which have expanded with 15 new courses across seven university faculties through the RRF 2.1.2 Complex Digital Transformation – Intelligent Degree Shift grant, and online courses like „Introduction to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)“ developed in collaboration with partner institutions of the Hungarian Universities Sustainability Platform, reflect this commitment. In June of this year, the University of Szeged was also recognized by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) for its dedication to sustainability and outstanding performance in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) areas, receiving the ‚Commitment to Sustainability‘ award at the QS EduData Summit 2024.
The complete THE Impact Rankings list can be accessed here.
In conclusion, the University of Szeged’s consistent performance and commitment to sustainability in higher education have positioned it as a leading institution globally and within Hungary. Through its initiatives and achievements, the SZTE continues to make significant contributions towards achieving a more sustainable and equitable future.
SZTEinfo