University of Saskatchewan Ascends Global Sustainability Rankings
In the second-ever QS world sustainability rankings, USask has risen to 89th in the world from a rank of 91 in the inaugural rankings in 2022.
USask also maintained its position in the top 100 in the rankings, despite the pool of participating institutions more than doubling from 700 to 1,403 in 2023.
“We are very proud of the concerted efforts and continued commitment our community has made to achieving the goals within our sustainability strategy. This excellent work deserves to be celebrated and recognized, and these rankings play a part in that recognition,” said Janelle Hutchinson, USask’s chief sustainability officer.
The QS sustainability rankings are intended to highlight the action being taken by institutions around the globe which “demonstrate a commitment to a more sustainable existence,” per the QS website. Those actions include factors like how universities are addressing climate change and conducting research in support of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The sustainability rankings are determined by an institution’s performance in various indicators parsed into three categories: Environmental Impact, Social Impact, and Governance. The indicators in each category include research, educational and policy factors that determine each institution’s overall rank.
The highest-performing category for USask was Environmental Impact, where USask was ranked in the top 50 globally.
USask’s position of 89th overall also places it 24th out of 342 participating institutions in the Americas, and 12th of 31 participating Canadian universities.
“Over the last decade, universities have become increasingly aware of the impact they have both in the discovery of solutions to real-world sustainability challenges but also in the vital role we play in educating the leaders of tomorrow so they can continue to transform our society to a sustainable future,” Hutchinson said. “USask is taking a clear role as a leader in addressing sustainability challenges around the world.”
This is not USask’s only marked success in the QS rankings this year – the university also jumped more than 100 spots to a best-ever ranking of 345th in the QS World University Rankings released in the summer.
As Hutchinson puts it, the dedication from USask staff and faculty is reflected in the Signature Areas of Research – one of which specifically focuses on Communities and Sustainability – and she noted the UN’s SDGs are supported by the work from all nine of the university’s Signature Areas.