The University of Guelph is among the top 10 per cent of universities across the globe for its commitment to sustainability.
U of G placed 139th out of 1,403 institutions, climbing more than 200 places in this year’s Quacquarelli Symonds World University sustainability rankings.
Among 31 Canadian institutions assessed this year, U of G tied for 17th place.
“I am immensely proud of our University’s achievement in these rankings. Building a sustainable tomorrow is one of our strategic priorities here at U of G,” said Dr. Charlotte Yates, U of G president and vice-chancellor.
“Together, we continue to cultivate a community that not only excels academically when it comes to sustainability but is also leading the way globally on environmental stewardship and with our social impact,” Yates added.
University rankings reflect U of G excellence
The QS World University Rankings: Sustainability assess universities around the world by measuring each institution’s ability to tackle the world’s greatest environmental, social and governance challenges.
The goal of the rankings is to make positive change for people and the planet, which aligns with many of the priorities in the U of G Strategic Plan.
The rankings use indicators including environmental education, environmental sustainability and environmental research along with equality, knowledge exchange, impact of education, employability and opportunities and quality of life.
In its environmental impact ranking, U of G rose more than 100 places to 215. This was driven by a strong performance in the environmental education measure, which rose in rank to 174th from 401st.
This category recognizes the efforts universities make to transform the planet for the better through research into areas such as the environment and climate science, a strategic focus on climate mitigation, and how impactful its alumni have been in creating a more sustainable world.
Exceptional student experience adds to social impact
U of G also had a strong showing in its social impact, rising to be one of the top 150 institutions, moving to 129th place from 366th.
This category recognizes the efforts universities make to transform society for the better through equality measures, sharing knowledge and learning from others, providing strong outcomes to graduates and ensuring that students have a great experience while under their care.
U of G has long been committed to investing in an exceptional student experience inside and outside of the classroom, by providing students with experiential learning opportunities and flexible pathways for studying across disciplines.
In governance, U of G was among the top 100 institutions, ranking 94th, assessed through ethics culture, student participating in university governance and transparency in its annual financial and general meeting reports.