Western Sydney University has been ranked number one in the 2024 Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings, its third consecutive year at number one. Three other Australian universities made it into the top ten; University of Tasmania was ranked equal second, RMIT University ranked fifth and UNSW seventh.
Now in its sixth year, the Impact Rankings, identify universities that are excelling across multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). According to THE, these universities are “showcasing their commitment to addressing the world’s most pressing challenges, including environmental sustainability, social inclusion, economic growth and partnerships”.
A further five Australian universities made it into the top 50 of the overall Impact Rankings: UTS (=13), Macquarie (24), Monash (32), Newcastle (=39), Wollongong (=44). And a total of twenty-one Australian universities appeared in the overall rankings, which THE attributes to Oceania being a region that takes sustainability “extremely seriously”.
THE also provides Impact Rankings for all 17 individual SDGs. Australian universities feature in the top ten of 12 of the UN SDGs, with Western Sydney University appearing seven times.
Four Australian universities also ranked number one in the individual UN SDG:
- Gender equality: Western Sydney University
- Reducing inequalities: RMIT University
- Climate action: University of Tasmania
- Partnerships for the Goals: University of Technology Sydney
The following table provides a list of Australian universities that feature in the top ten of the individual SDG:
| UN SDG | Australian universities in top ten |
| UN SDG 2: Zero hunger | La Trobe University |
| UN SDG 3: Good health and wellbeing | Australian Catholic University
University of Tasmania James Cook University |
| UN SDG 5: Gender equality | Western Sydney University (number 1)
Flinders University La Trobe University |
| UN SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation | UNSW
University of Newcastle University of Technology Sydney Macquarie University Griffith University Western Sydney University RMIT University |
| UN SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth | RMIT University
University of Wollongong |
| UN SDG 10: Reducing inequalities | RMIT University (number 1)
University of Canberra Western Sydney University Central Queensland University Flinders University |
| UN SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | Monash University |
| UN SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production | Western Sydney University |
| UN SDG 13: Climate Action | University of Tasmania (number 1)
UNSW Western Sydney University University of Newcastle |
| UN SDG 14: Life Below Water | University of Tasmania
UNSW Griffith University |
| UN SDG 15: Life On Land | University of Tasmania
Western Sydney University |
| UN SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | University of Technology Sydney (number 1)
James Cook University Western Sydney University |
THE evaluated 2152 universities from 125 countries/regions to produce the rankings. India is the most-represented country in the overall table with 96 institutions.
The Impact Rankings can be found here.
