Sustainability in Comparison
THE Impact Ranking
In 2019, the British information service provider Times Higher Education (THE) started publishing the THE Impact Rankings, a data-based comparison of universities in the field of sustainability, for the first time. Using performance indicators, the Rankings compare the participating universities’ commitment and efforts in addressing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), for example, through research projects. In addition to individual rankings for the various 17 SDGs, there is also an overall ranking based on the points universities have earned in their four top-scoring SDGs.
In contrast to most other university rankings, participation in the Impact Rankings is voluntary and requires universities to provide comprehensive data. While only 467 universities – including two from Germany – took part in the overall ranking in 2019, the number rose to 1,591 universities by 2023, nine of which are from Germany.
How does RWTH rank?
RWTH participated in THE Impact Ranking for the first time in 2022 and will be listed in the 2023 ranking. Its focus was limited to SDGs 3, 7, 8, 9, 13, and 17 due to the available data. In the overall ranking, RWTH is ranked in the 201-300 group worldwide. Looking at the other 8 German universities, only FU Berlin managed to achieve a better result with its ranking in the 101-200 group.
RWTH achieved the best result for SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure. With 99.7 out of a possible 100 points, RWTH ranks 11th worldwide. Another ranking among the world’s top 100 universities is achieved in SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth. Aachen is ranked 88th in this category and 2nd in Germany. RWTH is ranked 101-200 in SDG 13 – Climate Action – and 401-600 in the other three SDGs it entered.
The Limitations of the Ranking
However, as with most other university rankings, the results should be interpreted with some caution. For example, the fact that not all universities are represented in the ranking skews the rankings in some ways, both to positive and negative effect. We can assume that most universities will only participate if they expect a reasonably good result. This also means that the participating universities may already be significantly better positioned in terms of sustainability than most universities worldwide. A university’s position in the ranking thus does not necessarily reflect how well it compares to all other universities around the world but, in essence, only shows how well it compares to the other universities participating in the ranking. The significance of being in Germany’s top 10 must also be understood in light of the number of participating universities.
Evaluating sustainability-related aspects for which legal regulations may already be in effect in a respective country is also problematic. For example, a smoking ban already prohibits smoking in public buildings throughout Germany. So, RWTH does not need to adopt a separate directive or implement further regulations. However, not having an organization-specific guideline leads to fewer points for RWTH, affecting its position in the ranking.
We should critically examine how helpful the various performance indicators are for holistically measuring and evaluating a university’s sustainability efforts. A ranking cannot replace one’s own analysis and critical examination of the topic. RWTH decided to take part in the ranking precisely because it does not only show our strengths but also our weaknesses. The direct comparison with other universities and the outside view helps us reflect on our own perception and identify the areas where we need to step up our efforts.