The University of Turku participated in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Ranking 2020 which ranks universities according to their success in delivering the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The University of Turku participated in the ranking for the first time. Universities can participate in THE Impact Ranking in 17 categories which correspond to the SDGs of the UN. Any university that provides data on SDG number 17 and at least three other SDGs is included in the overall ranking. A university’s final score in the overall table is calculated by combining its score in SDG 17 with its top three scores out of the remaining 16 SDGs.
The University of Turku was ranked among the 101-200 best universities in the overall ranking. Altogether 767 universities from around the world were ranked in the overall ranking.
– Our ranking is excellent, and it shows our goals and achievements in sustainable development. The ranking is also promising for our future success, as the statistics used in this ranking are from 2018 after which the themes of sustainable development have been given a strong boost at the University of Turku, says Vice Rector Mika Hannula.
The University of Turku participated in all together five categories in the ranking: 17 (partnership for the goals), 3 (good health and well-being), 4 (quality education), 11 (sustainable cities and communities) and 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions). In all these categories, the University was ranked above the average of all universities.
– The University’s role as a support in political decision-making as well as sustainable city development were already recognised as our areas of strength, which is clearly visible in the results of the ranking. We can assume that in the future, biosciences, for instance, will become our areas of strength recognised in the ranking as well, continues Hannula.
Ranking of the University of Turku in the SDGs:
- Best result of the University of Turku was in goal 16 where it was ranked 13/435 of all participating universities.
- In goal 11, the ranking was 35/470.
- In goal 17 which was compulsory for all participants, the ranking was 201-300/806.
- In goal 3, the ranking was 101-200/620.
- In goal 4, the ranking was 201-300/676.
Of the Finnish universities, the University of Turku shared third place in the overall ranking with LUT University. The highest ranked Finnish universities were Aalto University (47) and University of Helsinki (80). First in the overall table was the University of Auckland from New Zealand. Second was the University of Sidney from Australia, third Western Sydney University form Australia and fourth La Trobe University from Australia. The ranking is based on bibliometric data supplied by Elsevier and on data the universities are requested to provide.
