Published today (1 June), and placing the University joint 24^th in the world and 4^th in the UK, the latest rankings reinforce Newcastle’s position as a global leader for actions taken towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs).

With a new record number of entries, the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings are the only global performance tables that assess almost 1,600 universities against the UNSDGs. Institutions are evaluated across the areas of research, stewardship, outreach and teaching.

The University scored highly across a number of the 17 UNSGs, including UNSDG 13: Climate Action, SDG11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG12: Responsible Consumption and Production and SDG17: Partnership for the Goals.

Professor Chris Day, Vice-Chancellor and President, Newcastle University, said: “I am very proud of our sustained performance in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, a recognition of how aligning our work with the UNSDGs is driving education, research and innovation across the University. Since the rankings were first released in 2019, we have been consistently placed among the world’s best universities, highlighting the commitment and passion of our colleagues and the instrumental contribution of our students.

“Encouragingly, this year has seen record participation, and with that, the latest rankings highlight the importance of working together to push further and faster on environmental sustainability and social justice. This is exactly what we are determined to do, continue pushing the boundaries of knowledge and providing an exceptional education to play our crucial part in building a fairer, stronger and more sustainable future.”

You can read more from the Vice-Chancellor about how committing to UNSDGs is energising our research-intensive University and he explains how aligning our work with them is driving education, research and innovation across the University.

Climate Action

By declaring a Climate Emergency in 2019 alongside its partners in the city and committing to net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2030, Newcastle University is taking urgent action to address the climate crisis.

This has been recognised in the latest Impact Rankings with the University achieving a particularly high score in UNSDG 13: Climate Action. This looks at University research and outreach activity on climate change, and the actions taken by universities to achieve Net Zero. Newcastle University’s Climate Action Plan includes significant investment in carbon reduction through measures such as its rooftop solar PV programme.

In 2020, the University took the decision to embed Environmental and Social Justice as core values, aligning its work with the UNSDGs to drive education, research and innovation across the University. This strategic approach has been consistently recognised through its performance in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, and also in the inaugural QS World University Rankings: Sustainability, where in 2022 the University was ranked 18th in the world.

Achieving leading performance across these separate rankings, which evaluate how Universities are taking action to tackle the world's most pressing environmental and social issues, demonstrates the unique contribution which can be made by the University and the wider sector.

Read the Vice-Chancellor’s view on how the University is aligning its work with the UNSDGs to drive education, research and innovation across the University.