Northumbria
University has been ranked among the top 50 institutions in the world for
sustainability in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024.
The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, which are published today (Wednesday
12 June) are the only global performance tables that assess universities
against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Northumbria
achieved its highest ever position in Times Highers’ Impact league table, climbing
to joint 48th in the world and within the top 10 in the UK, from
almost 1,700 universities worldwide.
The
University scored especially well for its stewardship activities, ranking
within the top 10 in the world.
The Impact Rankings
rate universities for their work in research, stewardship, outreach and
teaching against the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, known as SDGs. The goals recognise
that global work to end poverty, tackle climate change and ensure
sustainability must go hand-in-hand with strategies to improve health and
education, reduce inequality and spur economic growth.
The
stewardship metric shows that a university is leading by example and running as
sustainably as possible. This includes activities such as energy efficient
renovation and building, water re-use policies, and providing sustainable food
choices and tracking food waste on campus.
Northumbria also
scored highly for its work related to the goals around decent work and economic
growth; life on land; responsible consumption and production and affordable and
clean energy, ranking within the top 40 in the world in all of these areas.
Professor
Andy Long, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Northumbria University said: “Universities
can have significant impact on sustainability through their operational
activities, but it is the influence they bring to bear more widely – on
students, cities and regions through their role as anchor institutions, and the
national and international research communities – that has the biggest impact
on driving sustainability. Leading by example is essential if we are to
have credibility within these communities.
“Our strategy is to change lives through
education and research, to tackle the global challenges of our age, driving
sustainability through our research, education and operations. While we are
well known for our world-leading research in areas such as renewable energy
materials, ice sheets and volunteering, humanitarian crises and development, we
recognise that our operational activities have an impact on the environment and
the wider community, and we work hard to maximise our positive contribution in
many ways.”
Speaking on some of the University’s stewardship activities, Professor George Marston, Pro
Vice-Chancellor for Strategic Projects and Chair of Northumbria University’s
Sustainability Management Group, said: “We were the first university in the UK
to introduce Too Good To Go, an app that allows
users to purchase meals that would have otherwise gone to waste at a reduced
price. We also take part in the OLIO scheme which
connects our catering outlets with the local community to share and donate
leftover food.
“As
we refurbish our campus, we are committed to
investing in energy projects that utilise onsite renewable generation,
including site electricity generation via PV arrays and buildings that can
operate with renewable heat technologies, such as heat pumps. We have a zero
non-hazardous waste to landfill policy, and we donate thousands of unwanted
items to charity each year both through the British Heart Foundation Pack for
Good Scheme and through donations of unwanted furniture arising from
refurbishment projects.
“Northumbria University has a deep-rooted
commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and we are delighted to see
this is evidenced in our performance in Times Higher Education’s Impact
Ranking.”
The
University’s achievement in Times Higher Education’s Impact Ranking comes just
a few months after it was rated First Class and named the highest ranked
university in the North East in the People & Planet University League.
Click here to
read more on environmental sustainability at Northumbria and how the
University’s activities support each of the Sustainable Development Goals.
