Sustainability Rankings

Times Higher Education Impact Ranking

First launched in 2019, the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings focus on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Palacký University has been listed in this ranking since its inception four years ago, when UP was ranked 101^st–200^th out of 467 evaluated institutions. In the most recent 2022 edition, more than three times as many universities are included in the ranking (1406). Despite their growing number, Palacký University Olomouc has managed to improve its placing from 2021, advancing from 501^st–600^th to 201^st–300^th places. This means shared status of Czech number one together with Charles University in Prague.

To be included in the overall ranking, a mandatory SDG 17 had to be satisfied, plus three other optional SDGs. If data for more SDGs were provided, the overall ranking was calculated from the top three scores. In the 2023 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, UP achieved its best results in SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) – as well as in the mandatory SDG 17 (Partnership for the Goals).

The top world institution in fulfilling the United Nations’ sustainable development goals for 2022 is Western Sydney University, Australia. The complete rankings are available here.

 

QS World University Rankings: Sustainability

Published by Quacquarelli Symonds since 2022, the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability is focused on the social and environmental sustainability performance of higher education institutions.

In the first edition, called QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2023, a total of 700 universities were ranked, four of which were from the Czech Republic. Palacký University Olomouc was ranked 451^st–500^th.

The environmental impact category is divided into three sub-domains, while the social impact is considered in even more detail (5 sub-domains). In the environmental sphere, sustainability indicators – including sustainable institutions, sustainable education, and sustainable research – are evaluated; Palacký University performed best in sustainable education, where it ranked 217th. The social impact category considers equality, knowledge exchange, educational impact, employability and opportunities, and quality of life. Within these indicators, UP ranked best in knowledge exchange (247th).

The top-ranked university in the 2023 QS World University Rankings: Sustainability is the University of California, Berkeley from the United States. Second and third place belongs to Canada, namely the University of Toronto and the University of British Columbia.

Source: QS World University Rankings: Sustainability

 

UI GreenMetric World University Rankings

The UI GreenMetric World University Rankings is the first international ranking since 2010 that assesses how well universities are developing their infrastructure and education according to environmental and sustainability principles.

Palacký University Olomouc joined the ranking for the first time in 2021, when it was ranked 642nd out of 956 universities from 80 countries. In 2022, UP moved up 100 places to rank 546th out of 1,050 universities worldwide. Of the six Czech universities ranked, it moved up one place to fourth place:

Six main domains are compared: infrastructure, energy and climate change, waste, water, transportation, and education and research. Between 5 and 20 indicators are to be completed in each of these domains, accompanied by evidence in the form of a photograph, a web link, or a verbal description. UP scored its best rating in Waste, mainly due to its good management of toxic waste and measures to reduce the amount of paper and plastic used. Extra points were made thanks to the number of green areas on the campuses, such as the Faculty of Science park at Envelopa and the UP Education and Science Centre park in the Šlechtitelů complex. UP also performs very well in the field of education and research in the context of sustainability, especially thanks to the disciplines whose teaching includes issues of sustainability and climate change.

Overall, universities in the Netherlands, the UK, and the US perform best. The top three most environmentally friendly schools are Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands, followed by the UK’s Nottingham Trent University. More information is available here.