UL ranked in top 100 institutions for work on UN Sustainable Development Goals

University of Limerick has been ranked in the top 100 institutions worldwide for its work against the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2023 has placed UL at number 86 out of 1,591 institutions globally in measuring the positive societal impact UL is having in implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). These are a list of 17 goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

The Impact Rankings, published earlier this month, examine a university’s performance against the SDGs across teaching, research, equality, internal culture, and the impact higher education institutions have in the wider society. This year’s result sees UL jump a number of places in the rankings, compared to 2022 when they were ranked in the 101-200 range out of a total of 1,400 institutions.

Andrea Deverell, Director of the Centre for Sustainable Futures and Innovation at UL said: “Achieving a place in the top 100 of global sustainability rankings underscores the collective endeavour within and across our university to tackle one of the defining issues of our age.” 

“This isn’t an endpoint, but rather a marker on our continuing journey. Our commitment to sustainability, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals is an essential part of our ethos. We’re encouraged by this recognition and driven by the responsibility of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead”

UL is ranked 17th for SDG 12: Responsible Consumption & Production which focuses on the efficient use of resources and minimising waste while limiting consumption of non-renewable resources. It has also ranked 25th for SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, highlighting the university’s research on social inequalities, its policies on discrimination and commitment to recruiting staff and students from under-represented groups. The University also ranks in the top 100 for a number of other individual SDGs.

Commenting on the rankings, Professor Norelee Kennedy, UL’s Vice President for Research said: “The rankings highlight and promote UL’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals across the university,and show that UL is a leader when it comes to tackling the global challenges we all face.”