University of Johannesburg: UJ top global impact rankings for its commitment to SDGs
The University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) has again been ranked amongst the world’s leading universities, reaffirming its position as the fastest-growing institution of higher learning in the country and on the continent.
According to the latest Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, released on Wednesday, 21 April 2021, UJ is now ranked in the 1st position in the world for Decent Work and Economic Growth. UJ also featured among the global Top 100 in the various United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs).
The rankings are a pioneering initiative to recognise universities across the world for their social and economic impact, based on the SDGs of the United Nations.
UJ has been placed 92nd overall in the world.
Not only has UJ retained its position in the Top 100 but remarkably, the University has also climbed to the 1st position from 48 last year (2020 edition) in the world for SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.
THE Impact Rankings are based on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations (UN), which are designed to address the most serious and critical global challenges of our time. More than 1150 universities from around the world participated in the rankings, which also aim to capture and measure universities’ contribution to society and the global knowledge economy, through their success in delivering on the UN SDGs, assessed against all 17 UN SDGs.
In addition to being ranked 92nd in the world, UJ was ranked in the top 100 for the following SDGs: SDG 1: No Poverty (#4); SDG 4: Quality Education (#24); SDG 5: Gender Equality (#43); SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities (#60); SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production (#79) and for SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy (#91).
Says Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, UJ’s Vice-Chancellor and Principal : “The University has invested heavily in the teaching and learning domain to make it possible for our students and academic staff to excel in research and academic work. Through these impact rankings the University is demonstrating its work in tackling global issues, and these endeavours have not gone unnoticed.
“These results are received with great joy and celebration, as we continue to forge ahead with our mission to make UJ the University of Choice, anchored in Africa and dynamically shaping the world. We remain steadfast in supporting the UN SDGs through our research, teaching and learning, community outreach and engagement, stewardship, and knowledge transfer.”