News

Aalto University ranked 5th in partnership in THE University Impact Ranking

Published: 4.4.2019

The overall ranking of Aalto University was 19th. The international Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings assess universities against the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Measured by social and economic impact, Aalto University ranks 19th in the new THE University Impact Rankings. The ranking is based on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, and for the inaugural University Impact Rankings, THE chose 11 of these goals. This is the first year the University Impact Rankings were released. A total of 560 universities from 75 countries participated.

In addition to the compulsory indicator, Partnership for the goals, the overall ranking of universities was determined by the top three rankings out of the other goals. The overall ranking of Aalto University (19^th), was based on the rankings given for the following sustainability goals: Partnerships for the goals (5^th), Responsible consumption and production (6^th), Industry, innovation and infrastructure (10^th) and Climate action (27th).

Aalto has signed an international Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Accord as the first Finnish university. By signing the Accord Aalto commits to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as part of its teaching, research, innovation activities, and campus development.

Aalto University emphasizes the strength of cooperation in achieving these goals together with its partners both in Finland and around the world. Aalto Sustainability Hub promotes multidisciplinary research and education on the theme as well as the implementation and embedding of SDGs to all of the university's activities. The Nordic Sustainable Campus Network NSCN, led by Aalto University, is also an Endorsing Partner of the Accord.

Aalto University and University of Helsinki will organize Sustainability Science Days 2019 conference on 9-10 May. One of the keynote speakers is Laura Tucker, CEO of Vertigo Ventures, presenting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals as the basis for THE University Impact Ranking. Vertigo Ventures carried out the calculation of THE Impact comparison.

The Aalto community has also chosen sustainable development at the heart of the ongoing strategy process.