THE Impact Rankings: UL achieves high results in assessment of Sustainable Development Goals

UL retains the 101^st–200^th place in The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2023 that assess universities against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, although the assessment this year includes 160 more universities than in the previous year.   

In the 2023 THE Impact Rankings, UL retains its place among the TOP 200 universities in three sustainable development indicators. A total of 1 591 universities were evaluated this year, while in 2022 THE Rankings assessed 1 410 higher education institutions. UL is ranked the highest among the higher education institutions in the Baltic states.

UL entered the TOP 200 in three “THE Impact Rankings 2023” gender equality (universities’ research on the study of gender equality, their policies on gender equality and their commitment to recruiting and promoting women); peace, justice and strong institutions (universities’ research on peace and justice, participation as advisers for government and policies on academic freedom); decent work and economic growth (universities’ economics research, their employment practices and the share of students taking work placements). In total, higher education institutions are ranked in 17 categories.

“Sustainable Development Policy of University of Latvia approved in January of this year marks further actions in the direction of sustainability. Combining social, environmental and economic issues, the University's contribution and goals reflect an interdisciplinary approach to development. In future perspective, by bringing the developed policies and strategies to life in daily operation and management principles, we will also ensure the achievement of high results in the future,” says Renārs Kairis, chairman of the UL Eco-Council.

He adds: “It is important that the development of the University combines infrastructure, equality, management and a number of other, fundamental directions. Thus, we have an important role in educating society and demonstrating opinion leadership.”

THE Impact Rankings reflects universities' influence on society, based on the success of higher education institutions in contributing to the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals. It represents the work that universities do and is an opportunity to highlight important accomplishments of higher education institutions which are not assessed in the rankings of other classifications.