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16th January 2025

Global North Dominates as Sustainability Shapes 2025 University Rankings

Sustainability now accounts for 5% of the QS World University Rankings score.

Since 2024, sustainability has been incorporated into the criteria for university world rankings, reflecting the increasing importance of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) efforts in shaping a university’s global standing and reputation.

Why rankings matter

University rankings impact reputation, branding, decision-making, benchmarking, partnerships, and funding. They serve as a key measure of institutional quality, helping universities attract students, faculty, and financial resources while driving improvements in performance and collaboration.

Methodology

The QS Sustainability Rankings assess universities on their commitment to a sustainable future using ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) metrics:

  • Environmental Impact: Measures sustainability initiatives, carbon footprint reduction, and contributions to environmental research.
  • Social Impact: Assesses community engagement, inclusivity, and societal impact of research.
  • Governance: Evaluates transparency, accountability, and the adoption of sustainable policies.

Key Insights 

We’ve reviewed the latest QS Sustainability Rankings and here are some of our key findings.

  • Global Leadership: Institutions in North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand dominate the rankings, with the University of Cape Town (ranked 45th) as the highest outside the Global North.
  • Environmental Impact: North American and European universities lead, with only six Indian institutions ranking in the top 200 despite national improvements.
  • Social Impact: Portuguese universities show significant progress, driven by knowledge exchange and policy citations.
  • Overall: The top 200 is predominantly occupied by Global North institutions, though Indian universities are improving their environmental metrics.

New entrants to the Top 20 (2025)

  • University College London (=5)
  • King’s College London (14)
  • University of Helsinki (18)
  • Pennsylvania State University (=19)
  • Stanford University (=19)

 

Implications for Higher Education Marketing

The growing emphasis on sustainability rankings offers universities a unique opportunity to bolster their reputation and global standing. Institutions that prioritise ESG metrics can attract students, partnerships, and funding by aligning their messaging with sustainability values.

View from the Lodge:

At Hunterlodge, we help universities position themselves as sustainability leaders by highlighting their strengths in environmental and social impact. From promoting net-zero plans and renewable energy use to showcasing community engagement, we craft targeted campaigns that emphasise the universities achievements.

Using rankings data, we identify areas for improvement and develop strategies to enhance global standing, including thought leadership and collaboration opportunities. For sustainability-conscious students, our work highlights green campus initiatives, research opportunities, and community programmes, ensuring universities stand out by demonstrating tangible benefits and local impact.

We’ve had the privilege of collaborating on numerous sustainability-focused projects with our clients. Highlights include the exceptional creative work our team delivered in promoting Queen Mary’s Humanities courses.

Another standout campaign was for the University of Reading, where we brought the renowned climate stripes by Ed Hawkins (Climate Scientist) to life with the inspiring “Show Your Stripes” initiative.

“The truth is: the natural world is changing. And we are totally dependent on that world. It is the most precious thing we have, and we need to defend it.”
— Sir David Attenborough

So, if you’re looking for an agency passionate about sustainability and delivering innovative, impactful solutions, get in touch today kim.mclellan@hunterlodge.co.uk

Let’s create a greener future together.

 

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