UNIVERSITI Sains Malaysia (USM) has been named the world’s top university for its research efforts and impact towards attaining two of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
According to the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2022, it is also the only Malaysian institution on the overall top 100 list, taking an enormous leap from the 39th to the fourth spot.
The university is number one in working towards achieving SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).
This is based on its research on peace and justice, participation as advisers for the government and policies on academic freedom.
It also shares the first spot for SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) with the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom.
This is based on the broader ways in which a university supports the SDGs through collaboration with other countries, promotion of best practices and publication of data.
It is the highest institution in an emerging economy to feature in the overall ranking and shares the position with King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia.
In addition, USM ranks seventh for SDG 5 (Gender Equality), 11th for SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), 26th for SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 27th for SDG 4 (Quality Education), 33rd for SDG 14 (Life Below Water), 38th for SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), 42nd for SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), 65th for SDG 13 (Climate Action) and 94th for SDG 15 (Life on Land).
USM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Faisal Rafiq Mahamd Adikan said the success is an absolute acknowledgement, befitting the aim of USM, which was awarded the Accelerated Programme for Excellence (Apex) status in 2008, in becoming the institution that leads in global sustainability as part of its aspiration.
“Various measures have been taken and continuously monitored to ensure that sustainability will be the norm of the campus community,” he said in a statement on April 28, adding that USM has readied various infrastructure and policies for this.USM board of governors chairman Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin said: “This is the highest acknowledgement given to USM, which bears testimony that USM can become a world leader in sustainable initiatives, especially in raising the quality of life for all of mankind, more specifically for the communities in the country.”
The rankings, released last Thursday by THE, publisher of the globally recognised THE World University Rankings, assessed institutions worldwide on their commitment to the world’s greatest challenges as listed in the UN 17 SDGs.It assesses university commitment to sustainability across four broad areas – research, stewardship, outreach and teaching.
Australia’s Western Sydney University claimed the top spot on the overall table, followed by Arizona State University (Tempe), the United States, and Western University, Canada.
The 17 SDGs also include Affordable and Clean Energy, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Reduced Inequality, and Sustainable Cities and Communities.
THE chief knowledge officer Phil Baty said: “It is inspiring to see such a large, diverse and rapidly-growing community of universities from all continents committed to subjecting themselves to scrutiny, to measure and demonstrate their impact and to showcase best practices in delivering the SDGs.”
“Students, as well as governments, are increasingly demanding such commitments and these demands will strengthen,” he added.
A record 1,524 institutions from 110 countries or regions participated across the rankings this year, a 23% increase from last year, reflecting the growing importance of the SDGs within higher education institutions globally.
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