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Wales Online

National

Abbie Wightwick

Cardiff University tops list of most sustainable universities in Wales

United Nations Cardiff University Wales Cardiff (Geopolitical Entity) United Kingdom Manchester Metropolitan University University of Exeter University of Manchester Bournemouth University The United Nations

Cardiff University has ranked in the global top 100 in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2023. The list, now in its fifth year, is the world’s only one that measures universities’ contributions to the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The UK has one university in the overall top 10, three in the top 20 and 26 in the top 100 – more than any other nation in THE’s Impact Rankings. Cardiff University comes in joint 52nd place, the highest ranked university in Wales, and the twelfth highest in the UK.

A record 1,705 universities from 115 countries/regions were assessed and rated on their their commitment to sustainability across four areas: research, stewardship, outreach and teaching. Western Sydney University came out top.

Cardiff University Abacws building, Senghenydd Road (Mark Lewis)

The UK’s highest ranked institution, overall, is Manchester University, which took second spot. In addition, the university attained the top spot for one of the 17 sustainable development goals, life on land. The UK has the most universities in the top 100 of the overall table with 26.

The rankings also look at the social and economic impact of a more diverse range of institutions, with Bournemouth University at joint 29th and Bangor University joint 64th, Manchester Metropolitan University 66th position, Northumbria University joint 79th and Nottingham Trent University and University of Greenwich at 86th positions, all of which make the world top 100 alongside Russell Group institutions.

Impact Rankings 2023: all UK universities in the overall top 100

University of Manchester	United Kingdom	2
University of Glasgow	United Kingdom	13
University of Exeter	United Kingdom	=18
Newcastle University	United Kingdom	=24
Bournemouth University	United Kingdom	=29
University of East Anglia	United Kingdom	=36
University of Strathclyde	United Kingdom	=36
University of Sheffield	United Kingdom	=42
University of Surrey	United Kingdom	=46
University of Leicester	United Kingdom	=49
University of Sussex	United Kingdom	=49
Cardiff University	United Kingdom	=52
University of Edinburgh	United Kingdom	=52
University of Essex	United Kingdom	56
University of Reading	United Kingdom	=61
Bangor University	United Kingdom	=64
Manchester Metropolitan University	United Kingdom	66
University of Aberdeen	United Kingdom	70
Brunel University London	United Kingdom	=74
Durham University	United Kingdom	=77
University of Liverpool	United Kingdom	=79
Northumbria University	United Kingdom	=79
Queen’s University Belfast	United Kingdom	85
University of Greenwich	United Kingdom	=86
Nottingham Trent University	United Kingdom	=86
University of Plymouth	United Kingdom	=10

Source: Times Higher Education (THE)

Cardiff also features among the top 10 and the top 40 for progress in individual sustainable development targets. It ranks sixth for life below water - with that SDG stating it aims to conserve and sustainably use oceans, seas and marine resources - as well as 31st for health and wellbeing, a target to "ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages".

UK universities highest position in the 17 individual SDGs and all those in the top 10

1. SDG 1 – No poverty: University of Manchester – 7^th

2. SDG 2 – Zero hunger: University of Exeter – 11^th

3. SDG 3 – Good health and well being: Cardiff University – 31^st

4. SDG 4 – Quality education: Manchester Metropolitan University – joint 33^rd

5. SDG 5 – Gender equality: University of Worcester – 23^rd

6. SDG 6 – Clean water and sanitation: University of Exeter – 1^st

7. SDG 7 – Affordable and clean energy: Loughborough University – 15^th

8. SDG 8 – Decent work and economic growth: Bournemouth University – 3^rd and Northumbria University – joint 7^th

9. SDG 9 – Industry innovation and infrastructure: University of Edinburgh – joint 5^th

10. SDG 10 – Reduced inequalities: University of Huddersfield – 5^th; London South Bank University – 8^th and Sheffield Hallam University – 9^th

11. SDG 11 – Sustainable cities and communities: University of Glasgow – 2^nd; University of Manchester – 3^rd and University of Surrey – 10^th

12. SDG 12 – Responsible consumption and production: University of Reading – 2^nd; University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University – 3^rd (joint); Bournemouth University – 6^th; Queen’s University Belfast – 7^th; University of Sheffield and University of Warwick – joint 9^th

13. SDG 13 – Climate action: University of Exeter – 8^th and University of Reading – 10^th

14. SDG 14 – Life below water: Cardiff University – 6^th and University of Manchester – 10^th

15. SDG 15 – Life on land: University of Manchester – 1^st; University of East Anglia – 3^rd and University of Reading – 8^th

16. SDG 16 – Peace, justice and strong institutions: University of Liverpool – 5^th; University of Glasgow – 6^th and University of Strathclyde – 9^th

17. SDG 17 – Partnerships for the goals: University of Aberdeen – 4^th; Manchester Metropolitan University – 7^th; University of Strathclyde – 8^thand University of Glasgow – 9^th

Impact Rankings 2023: overall top 10

Western Sydney University	Australia	1
University of Manchester	United Kingdom	2
Queen’s University	Canada	3
Universiti Sains Malaysia	Malaysia	4
University of Tasmania	Australia	5
Arizona State University (Tempe)	United States	6
University of Alberta	Canada	=7
RMIT University	Australia	=7
Aalborg University	Denmark	=9
University of Victoria	Canada	=9
Western University	Canada	=9
University of Auckland	New Zealand	12
University of Glasgow	United Kingdom	13
Université Laval	Canada	=14
University of Technology Sydney	Australia	=14
Yonsei University (Seoul campus)	South Korea	=14
Chulalongkorn University	Thailand	17
University of Exeter	United Kingdom