Essex celebrates rising to top 60 in Times Higher Education Impact Rankings

The University of Essex has risen to the top 60 of the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, which recognise universities for making a difference in society and working towards a more sustainable future.

Essex is ranked 56th out of 1,591 institutions across the world assessed in the highly prestigious annual rankings which show how the global higher education sector is working towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Universities from around the world are measured against the Sustainable Development Goals and this year Essex was ranked in the top 100 globally for nine of these 17 goals.

The highlights for Essex this year were being ranked 17th for Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, 18th for Reduced Inequalities, 27th for Responsible Consumption and Production, 28th for Gender Equality, 31st for Life Below Water, and 45th for Climate Action.

At Essex, we are committed to achieving all of the goals and, for the second year, have presented a UN Sustainable Development Goals report to show how we are doing this.

Our report showcases how we are making a difference to the goals through examples from our research, education, and how we operate as an organisation.

Professor Dominic Micklewright, Dean of Undergraduate Education, who led the Impact Rankings submission said: “At Essex we are delighted to have gone up 20 places in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings and to be placed 56th out of nearly 1,600 universities in the world to have submitted this year.

“To be recognised in this way reflects our community spirit to constantly improve sustainability in all that we do, and the outstanding endeavours of our academic staff, students, and professional services staff. The sustainable ethos we have built at Essex makes us one of the best places in the world to study as a student, and one of the most exciting places to work as an academic.”

Daisy Malt, Essex’s Sustainability (Environment and Recycling) Manager, added: “Our performance in the THE Impact Rankings is a really important indicator of the range of ways Essex is making a difference to social and environmental challenges, and it is extremely pleasing to have improved our position in the 2023 rankings.

“It is something we can all be proud of as so much of what we do contributed to this year’s score and is testament to the ways that sustainable development is being embedded at the University.”

The Sustainable Development Goals were adopted by the UN member states in 2015 to provide a framework to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.

Our online report, Sustainable Development Goals at the University of Essex, shows what we are doing through research, education, and our actions as a university, to achieve each of the 17 goals. This included showcasing our:

• World-leading plant productivity research is helping towards the goal of zero hunger.
• Newest research institute - the Institute of Public Health and Wellbeing – has signed an international partnership with the World Heart Federation that will help tackle global heart disease, the world’s number one cause of death.
• Multiple research projects looking at the environmental factors which impact on our seas and waterways, providing insights which will tackle pollution and help us improve water quality in the natural world.
• Essex-led major new international study and global health research group focusing on breaking the damaging cycle of gender-based violence and poor mental health amongst migrants.